Will Guwahati rise above floods?

Is Guwahati prepared to weather the storm of yet another monsoon season, or will the floods leave the city submerged once again? It is a question that looms large as the ‘Mission Flood Free Guwahati’ initiative struggles to keep pace with the city’s flood woes.

In July 2022, the “Mission Flood Free Guwahati” initiative was launched to make the city flood-free by 2025. To control the flow of water during the monsoon season, the initiative entails building extensive water management systems, such as dams, reservoirs, and canals. Likewise, the government has been spending money to upgrade drainage systems and build more pumping stations to avoid waterlogging in low-lying areas. Yet, the project has made slow progress. There are doubts about the city’s ability to complete it by the 2025 target date. Besides that, the ongoing de-siltation work over the Bharalu River has taken longer than expected, which makes one wonder, “Who is to blame here?”

Public awareness is essential for making Guwahati flood-free. People need to be made aware of how their actions affect the environment and how that affects flooding. For instance, dumping garbage in rivers or leaving it lying around on the streets increases the chance that the drainage system will become clogged, causing flooding during periods of heavy rain. The general public must be aware that their actions have a collective impact on the neighbourhood and the environment.

Despite these challenges, there have been some positive developments in the city’s flood control, one of which is the development of the South-West Guwahati Water Management Project, funded by the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA). The project, which involved building a reservoir, a network of canals, and a pump house to control water flow during floods, is now partially operational and provides water to about 13,000 city households. While the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has proposed building new drainage systems and repairing existing ones in the city’s 40 flood-prone areas, it has also taken steps to improve the city’s drainage system. These, however, fall short, and the government has been criticized for its glacial pace of development. One recent example is the use of tarpaulin to cover the Bharalu River as a temporary measure to stop garbage disposal and address the mosquito problem. While it is important to hold the government accountable for its actions and ensure that it is taking all necessary measures to address the flooding problem, it is equally important for the public to participate and stop criticising the government without providing any solutions. Residents should instead take the initiative and participate in programmes meant to stop flooding in Guwahati. Also recognising that a coordinated effort between all parties—including citizens—is required to find a solution and that the government cannot solve the flooding problem on its own. It is the government’s duty to build the necessary infrastructure and put policies in place to lessen the impact of floods; it is powerless to stop natural disasters like heavy rainfall or storm surges.

The success of initiatives depends on the collective effort of all stakeholders, and it is essential for citizens to actively participate and contribute towards this goal. Until then, the question of making Guwahati flood-free will continue to haunt its citizens, as every monsoon season brings with it the fear and uncertainty of the damage that floods can cause.