Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Kaushik Rai on Friday chaired a review meeting at Janata Bhawan in Dispur to assess the prevailing flood situation in Guwahati and review the preparedness of the concerned agencies in tackling urban flooding.
During the meeting, the Minister directed all concerned agencies, including the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), Public Works Department (Roads) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), to undertake extensive cleaning and desilting of all drains across the city, including those along the National Highways passing through Guwahati, to ensure the free flow of stormwater and minimise waterlogging.
Rai further instructed the District Commissioner, Kamrup (Metro), to prepare a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for the maintenance of the city’s drainage system, along with a well-defined annual maintenance calendar.
He emphasised that drain cleaning should not be treated as a one-time exercise but should be carried out systematically before, during and after the monsoon, and wherever necessary, even after every heavy spell of rain.
Stressing the importance of coordinated action, the Minister said that effective planning, timely maintenance and accountability among all stakeholder agencies are essential to mitigating urban flooding and enhancing Guwahati’s resilience against recurring waterlogging.
He reiterated the State Government’s commitment to ensuring a safer, cleaner and better-prepared city through sustained efforts and inter-departmental coordination.
The meeting was attended virtually by Commissioner and Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Affairs, Kavita Padmanabhan and District Commissioner, Kamrup (Metro), Swapnil Paul. Commissioner and Special Secretary, PWRD, Sanjib Shyam; Secretary, DoHUA, Dr. Jeevan B; Commissioner, GMC, Chinmoy Phukan; officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI); and representatives of other concerned agencies were present in the meeting.
