Guwahati, Assam: Guwahati, the bustling urban heart of Assam, faces annual turmoil during the monsoon season due to severe urban flooding. This chronic issue stems from a complex interplay of environmental degradation and administrative shortcomings, disrupting lives, damaging infrastructure, and hindering economic activity.

A major contributor to the flooding is unplanned urbanization, which has led to the encroachment of natural drainage channels and wetlands. Vital ecosystems like Silsako Beel and Deepor Beel have been significantly reduced, stripping the city of its natural flood buffers. Compounding this is the failure of the city’s drainage system—clogged and inadequate stormwater drains are unable to cope with the intense, short-duration rainfall common in the region. Additionally, runoff from the nearby Shillong Plateau adds to the city’s flood burden.

The consequences are widespread: waterlogging paralyzes transportation, damages property, spreads waterborne diseases, and particularly devastates low-income neighborhoods with fragile infrastructure. The economic impact is equally severe, affecting tourism and disrupting daily business operations.

Efforts by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation and the GMDA, including desiltation projects and wetland restoration plans, have been initiated. However, bureaucratic delays and inter-agency coordination problems have slowed progress, while land disputes further complicate wetland recovery.

Addressing Guwahati’s flood woes requires more than quick fixes—it demands sustainable urban planning, committed environmental restoration, and robust infrastructural investment to build long-term resilience against this escalating challenge.