Anjan Pathak
We often talk about sustainability in the context of forests, oceans, and glaciers. But for millions of Indians, sustainability or the lack of it plays out much closer to home. It’s how we commute, how our cities respond to a single spell of rain, how breathable our air is, and whether the neighbourhoods we live in are designed for people or just for vehicles. As someone who has spent decades in Guwahati, Assam, which we call the Gateway of Northeast, I’ve witnessed firsthand how our everyday urban experience is becoming increasingly unsustainable, not because we lack resources or talent, but because we’ve ignored the basics for too long.
The Missing Elements of a Truly Liveable City
Good cities aren’t just about buildings and flyovers. They depend on well-built footpaths, dedicated bicycle lanes, reliable public transport, shaded walkways, green spaces, and strong drainage systems that hold up during heavy rains. However, in many Indian cities, unplanned growth and over-reliance on personal vehicles have shaped urban design. The result is more pollution, reduced mobility, loss of wetlands, and increasing urban stress. According to a report, more than 60% of trips in Indian cities are under 5 kilometres, distances ideal for walking or cycling. Yet, these options have become unsafe, inconvenient, and socially unattractive. This is not just a failure of policy; it is a failure of mindset.
The Invisible Killer: Air Pollution
When we think of air pollution in India, cities like Delhi or Mumbai often come to our minds. However, Guwahati’s air quality has been steadily worsening, and the situation demands urgent attention. Vehicle emissions contribute nearly 45% of Guwahati’s air pollution, followed by dust from construction sites and open waste burning. The number of registered vehicles in the city has seen a significant increase in the last five years, intensifying the problem. Poor air quality leads to serious health issues, including respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and increased hospital admissions, especially impacting vulnerable groups like children and the elderly.
To combat this, Guwahati must speed up the adoption of cleaner fuels, expand more electric public transport, enforce stricter pollution controls on construction activities, and raise public awareness about reducing pollution sources. The longer these actions are delayed, the greater the health risks and economic burden on the city and its residents.
Leading by Example: The Role of Businesses
At Vantage Circle, we believe sustainability should not be treated as a one-off initiative; it needs to be embedded into our everyday culture and decision-making. As part of this commitment, we recently launched a “Cycle-to-Work” challenge to motivate employees to choose eco-friendly modes of transport. We’re also making our office operations more energy-efficient and moving toward fully digital workflows to cut down on paper usage. While these may seem like small actions, they create a ripple effect, because when businesses take the lead, they influence employees, partners, and even the larger community.
Citizens as Catalysts for Change
While strong policies and better infrastructure are essential, they alone won’t fix our environmental challenges. Lasting change demands a shift in mindset and everyday behaviour from all of us. As citizens, we have a powerful role to play. It starts with making conscious choices: opting for public transport or cycling instead of private vehicles, reducing plastic use, and managing waste responsibly. At home, we must teach our children to respect nature, value clean air, and understand the importance of sustainability. Even small actions, like planting trees, avoiding open burning, or conserving electricity and safe water, make a difference. We can no longer afford to be passive residents in our cities. If we want cleaner, greener, and more liveable urban spaces, we must all be part of the solution through action, awareness, and accountability.
Looking Ahead: A Vision Worth Building
Sustainability is not just about fixing what’s broken but also about imagining something better. A city where a child can safely cycle to school, where public spaces are vibrant and inclusive, and where the air doesn’t need an app to be trusted. This future isn’t out of reach; it just needs alignment. When governments, businesses, and citizens move in the same direction, transformation is not only possible but also inevitable.
Assam, and Guwahati in particular, have the opportunity to lead this change, not by replicating what other cities have done, but by embracing solutions rooted in their own geography, culture, and community spirit. Let’s stop asking who is responsible and start asking what role they will play. Because the future we build is the one we choose to act on today.