Guwahati Gearing up for Flood-Resilient Future: Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah

Staff reporter

Guwahati: Housing & Urban Affair Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah on Thursday outlined a comprehensive roadmap to tackle artificial floods, improve urban infrastructure, and enhance water management in Guwahati. Addressing the media, the Minister highlighted the Government’s systematic approach to resolving the city’s drainage challenges, ensuring a sustainable and flood-resilient future.

Minister Mallabaruah stated that de-siltation work is already underway and the first phase is targeted for completion by March to prevent the floods that generally occur during April. Urging the people of the city to actively monitor progress, he encouraged public feedback to ensure efficiency and accountability.

To maintain transparency and efficiency, the government has formed 21 Monitoring Committees under the Disaster Management Act, comprising department officials, ward representatives, and local citizens. Minister Mallabaruah announced that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be issued to these committees, guiding them on effective monitoring. He also instructed them to closely observe contractors submitting unusually low bids to ensure quality execution.

The minister further emphasized the government’s commitment to a scientific and systematic approach to flood control. The Town and Country Planning Department has undertaken technical studies, and the government is implementing advanced drainage solutions to channel city waters towards Silsaku Beel and eventually to the Brahmaputra River.

Mallabaruah further said that major drains are being cleaned using super sucker machines, while smaller drains are being manually desilted by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), and Public Works Department (PWD) under the committee’s supervision. Work is also in progress in the Khanapara region to prevent excess rainwater runoff from Meghalaya from impacting the city.

Illegal structures affecting Guwahati’s drainage system will be monitored using satellite imagery, with strict action planned against violations. Minister Mallabaruah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to restoring the city’s natural water bodies. He announced ambitious plans to transform Silsaku Beel into a large water reservoir, ensuring long-term flood mitigation. Illegal constructions near Silsaku Beel will be demolished, and excavation work will begin soon.

Mallabaruah stated that the Ginger Hotel, Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development (OKDISCD), Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), and the Tennis Court Complex at Silsaku Beel will be relocated. He further mentioned that the Institute of Hotel Management is being shifted to GS Road, with the relocation process already underway. OKDISCD will be moved to the Rehabari area, while the Tennis Court Complex will be relocated to Sarusajai. Additionally, the authorities of Ginger Hotel have been instructed to shift the establishment.

The minister said that to improve urban sanitation, the government will develop Borsola, Silsaku, and Boragaon as three major sewerage treatment hubs. Work on the first phase, near Meghdoot Cinema Hall and Borsola, will commence soon, with a Rs 1,460-crore budget allocated for the initiative. Additionally, a Boragaon Retention Tank will be constructed to direct excess water into the Brahmaputra through Deepor Beel. Further initiatives include the creation of open spaces and a Legacy Urban Forest in Boragaon, promoting ecological sustainability.

Minister Mallabaruah announced that the Guwahati Jal Board will gradually assume responsibility for the city’s water supply from GMC, starting July 1 in several areas. He assured a smooth transition, with GMC covering initial fees for households shifting to the Jal Board before July. He further informed that water supply will soon begin in Panbazar and Uzanbazar, and ration card holders will be eligible for free water connections. “Narakasur Hill and Kamakhya areas will be included in future expansion plans,” he added.

The minister also stated, “To address frequent water pipe bursts, IIT Guwahati recommended surge tanks, but implementation challenges persist. As a corrective measure, robotic surveys inside transmission pipes revealed welding degradation and leakages. Repair work is already in progress to ensure uninterrupted water supply.”

The minister also briefed that a Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana—Urban (PMAY-U) clustered housing project for people living in Guwahati’s hilly areas. He emphasized the importance of integrated urban planning, urging collaboration among Railway, OIL, NHAI, and other key stakeholders to address the city’s infrastructure concerns holistically.

 Also Read: Flood-Free Guwahati: Monitoring Teams Formed To Supervise Drain De-Siltation

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