In a renewed push to address the city's chronic waterlogging woes, a high-level review meeting on the GIS-based Comprehensive Drainage Master Plan and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Bahini-Bharalu Basin was held at Janata Bhawan on Saturday.
The meeting, chaired by Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Kaushik Rai at his office conference hall, focused on evaluating proposed interventions aimed at strengthening Guwahati’s stormwater management system.
Officials and technical experts engaged in detailed discussions on the recommendations laid out in both the Master Plan and the DPR, with particular emphasis on their feasibility, sustainability, and long-term impact. The review comes amid growing public concern over recurring urban flooding that continues to disrupt daily life across several parts of the city during monsoon months.
During the meeting, the minister stressed the importance of developing a robust and practical drainage framework that can effectively mitigate waterlogging. Consultants involved in the project were directed to revise and refine their proposals by incorporating feedback and observations shared during the deliberations.
Rai further urged all stakeholders to carry out a thorough re-evaluation of the updated plans before final approval, ensuring that no technical gaps or implementation challenges remain unaddressed.
The discussion also highlighted the urgent need for an integrated and forward-looking approach to urban flood management. Key focus areas included enhancing drainage efficiency, building resilience against extreme rainfall events, and ensuring the timely execution of priority interventions.
Senior officials present at the meeting included Kavitha Padmanabhan, Commissioner and Secretary of the Housing and Urban Affairs Department; Anbamuthan M.P., CEO of the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA); Hivare Nisarg Gautam, Managing Director of AUIDFCL; Samprity Goswami, Additional Managing Director of AUIDFCL; Hemanta Dewri Bharali, Chief Engineer of PWD (Roads); and Pradyumna Bordoloi, Chief Engineer of Guwahati Municipal Corporation(GMC), among others.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving urban infrastructure and quality of life, Minister Rai called for coordinated efforts among all departments to tackle one of Guwahati’s most persistent civic challenges.
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