In the fifth edition of the IE Thinc: CITIES series, presented by Indian Express and Omidyar Network India and moderated by Sukrita Baruah, Chief Correspondent, the panelists discussed how Guwahati, a growing urban center, can deal with floods and drought.
Dr. Abhijit Sharma: Residents of Guwahati face anxiety at night as they return home, not sure if they will arrive on time, due to poor infrastructure. Despite the efforts to plan the city, the city is facing serious problems. One major problem is the Government organization GMDA (Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority), which operates without talking to the people or understanding their needs. The municipal corporation, which is supposed to be responsible for urban planning under the 74th Amendment, has been sidelined, leaving an administrative gap. Development decisions rest with experts and bureaucrats, keeping citizens out of the process.
Additionally, the development of Guwahati city is heavily influenced by brokers. They have suburbs and plots under their control and have built Guwahati in the disorganized manner we see today. In the master plan, 0.02 percent of the area is reserved for open spaces. All of this is involved.
In addition, the drainage system is inadequate due to poor planning in modern times and the incomplete implementation of the comprehensive development plan of 1972. Although there are positive signs, such as the recent adoption of urban planning initiatives and a renewed focus on water use, much work remains. correcting the city’s fundamental faults and making things move forward.
The drainage system since 1972, which was conceived by the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority, was not fully implemented due to resource limitations. This led to the system of pumping water through ponds. Despite these challenges, there are positive signs: the government has recently adopted urban planning plans in Guwahati and other parts of the state, indicating progress in land management. Additionally, if we reconsider the drainage system and focus on major channels, that approach can help improve water flow. These are the first steps but there is room for great progress.
In building a climate-resilient city
Dr. Hina Zia: Be it Guwahati, Delhi, Bengaluru or any small town, resilience must be combined with planning. Extreme events are on the rise, both globally and domestically, but countries are not doing enough. My work on the ACCRN project in Guwahati identified gaps in policy and planning, with a comprehensive plan submitted to the development authorities. However, projects have been taken up slowly, and many are incomplete, reflecting a decade of little progress.
Resilience means understanding the specific risks a city faces and preparing accordingly. For example, in Guwahati, slope analysis is essential to avoid building in flood-prone areas, while simple measures such as blocking basements in low-lying areas can prevent flooding. Improving drainage systems and using green spaces as environmental solutions can also reduce urban flooding.
Beyond infrastructure, building the capacity of local people and disaster response institutions is equally important. Governance should not only involve formal programs but also NGOs, CBOs and local communities. Despite knowing the problems and possible solutions, progress has been slow and there is still a need for course correction.
In the restrictions used
Swapnanil Barua: Guwahati’s hill, unknown to many, is near the district collector’s office and marks the city’s drainage divide. The city draws water mainly from the south, and the railway forms its drainage boundary. Initially, the British warned against the development of Guwahati, calling it the most unhealthy station in Assam due to poor water supply. The city was once a mixture of hills and swamps, with water flowing slowly through natural areas such as Silsako Beel, Burulu River and Dipurbil, which is now blocked.
Guwahati’s terrain, with its steep hills and lowlands, makes drainage a challenge. The city will need about Rs 50,000 crore for infrastructure interventions, including pumping stations, to control the flow of natural water. This is part of Assam’s budget, which makes it difficult for the government to address the issue.
The Chief Minister has recently admitted that major pipelines and land acquisition will be needed, even suggesting the demolition of buildings, including institutions, to reclaim the land. However, solving Guwahati’s waterlogging problems will require restoring wetlands and sponges to their pre-1960s state or water management technology. The current drainage system is inadequate.
In addition, the hills of Guwahati have sharp surfaces, which makes it difficult to build. The British realized this and moved the capital of Assam to Shillong in 1874. They assessed that Guwahati was better suited as a transit point than a permanent residence. Today, restored, developed wetlands exacerbate water management issues.
The city’s flood problems are exacerbated by the lack of a disaster management team and critical data on flood-prone areas. Until the planners delineate the area and restore the natural drainage systems in Guwahati or improve the transport to the flat northern bank, similar to the planned satellite cities such as Noida, near Delhi, or Rajarhat, near Kolkata, the city’s flooding problems will continue. Even a short rain can cause severe flooding, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive, sustainable urban planning for Guwahati.
Social degradation also affects public resources. Therefore, the restoration of public services must be accompanied by the restoration of the social community
On the road map of a living city
Dr. Kankana Dev: Guwahati is so paved and cemented that there is no place for drainage, which contributes to both drought and flood situations. In June 2024, the water shortage was so severe that people struggled to find water, prioritizing cooking over bathing. This drought situation occurred just before the current floods, highlighting the failure to recharge groundwater and water tables. The focus has been on building many pipelines to pump water from the Brahmaputra, but no attention has been paid to sealing and conserving the water like our ancestors did.
In cities, people manage water using traditional methods, such as built water reservoirs or dug ponds. For example, in Barpeta, island families raise platforms and use boats during floods, benefiting from fertile soil for farming after heavy rains. Such methods provide important lessons for modern water management.
Urban flooding is not limited to Guwahati. It just needs to follow the example of cities like Dhaka in Bangladesh and others in China and the US that have found solutions like the sponge city concept. This policy uses landscapes to absorb and release water slowly, to deal with floods and droughts. Guwahati can benefit from this approach by looking at three steps to reduce water related challenges.
On a larger scale, Guwahati needs to rehabilitate catchments and restore waterways, such as the Boroglu River. The development has disrupted natural water flow, causing flooding in areas such as Zoo Road. Restoring these channels, as suggested by previous experts, can alleviate some problems.
At the neighborhood level, green infrastructure, such as lakes and parks, can be integrated, with communities participating in the co-creation of these spaces. Governance should be more inclusive, allowing the participation of women, the elderly, and children, rather than just rich people or men. Finally, on a micro level, innovation is needed in road materials to be able to penetrate, away from traditional bitumen methods. By focusing on these three levels, Guwahati can work to reduce its water-related problems.
In the growth of acceptance
Dr. Abhijit Sharma: An important aspect of understanding cities is their history, which covers everything. In order to plan the road map of the future, it is important to express the past in terms of the forms and people who lived there. However, to do this effectively, a forum is needed where all voices and stories from different groups and stakeholders can be captured. At present, such a platform does not exist, as urban planning is mainly carried out by professionals, such as the GMDA. Despite the significant amount of money allocated – such as the Rs 50,000 million mentioned by Swapnanil Barua – questions remain about how the money was spent and who the beneficiaries are, especially for initiatives like the Smart City project.
A participatory approach, involving civil society organizations, NGOs and local residents is essential. The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) should play an important role as it is the body where people’s participation is meant to happen. This is important in ensuring that the development of the city includes and reflects the needs and voices of its citizens.
Although Guwahati has many challenges, it is a city that belongs to its people, and has the potential for renewal. By returning the city to its residents, the process can begin to involve the collective knowledge of those who have lived and worked in the city for decades. Local people, with their deep understanding of Guwahati, can have a hand in shaping its future. However, for this to happen, a forum for dialogue and discussion must be established.
Once this platform is in place, a meaningful dialogue can take place, enabling a participatory process in urban planning. This will lay the foundation for the road map going forward, allowing other necessary steps to be followed. Establishing this platform for citizen participation is essential to the recovery and revitalization of the city. Only then will Guwahati’s future be shaped by the views of all its stakeholders.