Guwahati residents step up to clean Dighalipukhuri as authorities stay silent

Staff reporter

Guwahati: With mounting frustration over government inaction, a group of Guwahati residents has taken it upon themselves to regularly clean Dighalipukhuri, the iconic waterbody in the heart of the city. What began as an occasional effort has now turned into a committed weekly routine for these civic-minded individuals.

Armed with gloves and garbage bags, the volunteers continue to collect mounds of trash plastic, bottles, and other non-biodegradable waste from both the water and surrounding areas. “Only four of us showed up this Sunday. We managed to collect around 25 kilograms of dry waste, including plastic. But every week, the same kind of trash appears again,” said a volunteer.

During earlier drives, as much as 950 kg of waste was removed in a single day, yet the problem persists. “There are bamboo bins along the walkway, but people still choose to throw wrappers and food waste into the water. It’s disheartening,” shared another participant.

Many of the volunteers feel their efforts, while necessary, shouldn’t have to replace official responsibility. “We’ve been doing this for a long time, but Dighalipukhuri deserves routine, professional maintenance,” said a member of the clean-up team.

However, appeals to the authorities have yielded little support. The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has distanced itself from the issue, with an official saying, “It is not under our jurisdiction to clean inside Dighalipukhuri. But we do clean the outer areas when the waste is placed outside.”

The Assam Tourism Department, under whose purview the site falls, claims action is underway. “The tender for Dighalipukhuri’s maintenance has been floated and an agency has been selected. The name will be announced soon,” a department representative said.

Even so, the lack of coordination between departments raises questions about accountability and long-term solutions. Until a structured maintenance plan is implemented, the responsibility continues to rest with the citizens.

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