Following death of 11 persons in last week's flood in Guwahati following heavy rains, the government today started a major eviction drive across the city to clear the wetlands.

Kamrup Metro district administration has been clearing the encroachments on both sides of the Bharalu river, the tributary flowing through the city, since this morning, Assam Commissioner and Secretary (Political) Prateek Hajela said.

Along with this, the administration is demolishing the illegal houses constructed on the Silsako lake in the city, he added. "Our main objective is to clear the water flow route through the city. That is why we are targeting the Bharalu at the first step. Wetlands are also very important and so Silsako is being cleared," Hajela told reporters at the spot.