Assam’s housing & urban affairs and irrigation minister, Ashok Singhal, took to Twitter on April 18 to express his helplessness as drains in VIP Road, Guwahati, were clogged with silt after a brief shower.
Singhal shared a photo and a video showing the extent of the problem, adding that artificial flooding in Guwahati is a significant issue because of the choked drains.
He pointed out that this is majorly due to silt coming from nearby hills, which have witnessed major deforestation and illegal encroachments.
“No one can prevent Artificial Flooding if drains are chocked like this after every rain. How can this be stopped? I am open to ideas and suggestions to handle this issue,” the minister tweeted.
This is the condition of the drains at VIP, Road Guwahati and many other such areas.
Drains are full of silt coming from Hills nearby, which is the result of deforestation and illegal encroachments of Hilly areas.
No one can prevent ARTIFICIAL FLOODING if drains are chocked… pic.twitter.com/lHGEMTHA6d
— Ashok Singhal (@TheAshokSinghal) April 18, 2023
Artificial flooding is a recurrent problem in Guwahati, and brief showers often lead to waterlogging in several areas in the city. Among the most-affected areas are Rukminigaon, Hatigaon, Tarun Nagar, Nabin Nagar, and VIP Road in the heart of the city. The accumulation of garbage and waste in the drainage system is also a significant cause of artificial floods in Guwahati. Citizens in Guwahati are not helping the local government as they throw garbage in the drains. Proper waste management with the help of citizens can go a long way in unclogging the drains.
Singhal has called for ideas and suggestions to tackle the issue. The construction of unauthorized buildings and encroachments on wetlands and natural drainage channels have exacerbated the artificial flood problem in Guwahati. The Assam government has taken several measures to mitigate the issue, including construction of bigger drains, cleaning of drainage system and removal of encroachments. However, despite these efforts, the problem of artificial floods in Guwahati continues to plague the city.
Despite these measures, the problem of artificial floods in Guwahati persists. Sustainable solutions need to be implemented to address the root causes of the problem, including deforestation, illegal encroachments, and improper waste management. The government needs to take a comprehensive approach to tackle the issue, including public awareness campaigns, stricter enforcement of environmental regulations, and collaboration with stakeholders, including citizens and local organizations.
The problem of artificial floods in Guwahati is a significant challenge that requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders. The government needs to take a holistic approach to address the root causes of the problem, including deforestation, illegal encroachments, and improper waste management. Citizens also need to be more responsible and play an active role in waste management and prevention of encroachments in natural drainage channels. With collaborative efforts, the problem of artificial floods in Guwahati can be mitigated, and the city can be made more resilient to the vagaries of the monsoon.
