Guwahati's Long-Term Strategy to Combat Waterlogging Issues
Addressing Urban Flooding in Guwahati
Guwahati, May 31: To tackle the ongoing waterlogging challenges in Guwahati, Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah emphasized on Saturday that the construction of road-cum-drains and the installation of silt traps are essential for a lasting resolution to urban flooding.
“The only viable solution involves building road-cum-drains and implementing silt traps. We will assess our progress following this year's monsoon season,” the minister stated after evaluating flood-affected regions throughout the city.
He also pointed out the importance of a “scientific approach” in combating urban flooding, drawing insights from other metropolitan areas.
“We aim to implement a scientific strategy similar to that of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. A Dutch firm has provided a report detailing effective methods to manage waterlogging in Guwahati, which we are working to implement,” he mentioned.
Mallabaruah highlighted that the desiltation initiatives by the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs (DoHUA) have yielded positive results.
“Currently, there is no waterlogging on Lamb Road, Silpukhuri, or behind the AGP Office. The water levels on Zoo Road are also decreasing. This improvement is due to rigorous desiltation efforts. However, once the water recedes, we must clean the drains again to prevent future flooding. This is an ongoing task,” he clarified.
With a focus on vulnerable low-lying areas, the minister announced targeted infrastructure projects for Rukminigaon and Hatigaon.
“We are constructing two significant drains to redirect water from Rukminigaon—one from Wireless to Lastgate on the left, and another from PIBCO point to Silsako on the right. Work on both projects has commenced,” he stated.
In the meantime, Guwahati began to recover on Saturday after heavy rainfall on Friday disrupted daily life.
With no further heavy rain reported, public transportation gradually returned to normal, although several areas in the city continued to experience flooding.