Despite being the largest city in northeast India with a population of around 11 lakh, Guwahati is entrenched in a severe water crisis that persists even after the monsoon floods have receded.
Repeated assurances from various governments have failed to provide a lasting solution to the city’s pressing issue.
Current water supply situation
The city’s water supply woes are highlighted by the fact that only a small fraction of households receive potable water from the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC)’s three water treatment plants and the partially commissioned JICA-assisted South Central Guwahati water project.
The GMC’s plants serve about 33,000 households, leaving many residents dependent on expensive private suppliers for their drinking water.
Rupjyoti Talukdar, executive engineer in charge of the JICA implementation unit, provided an update on the South Central Guwahati water supply project, stating,
“Under this project, over 20,000 households have been connected and are receiving water regularly. The project has the capacity to provide 191 million litres of water per day to around 1.25 lakh households. Although all the infrastructure is in place, the project is being commissioned in phases,” Talukdar said.
However, progress has been slow, with only 46 out of 120 district metering areas (DMAs) covered in the past one and a half years.
This partial implementation has compelled many residents to continue relying on private boreholes for clean drinking water.
Talukdar also noted that the South West Guwahati water project has not made significant progress, with commissioning expected to begin in September 2025.
Ongoing projects and challenges
The South East Guwahati water project, which has been underway for over a decade, has similarly faced delays.
An official from the Assam Urban Infrastructure Investment Program (AUIIP) revealed that only around 18-20% of the work has been completed to date.
Despite these ongoing efforts, the reality on the ground remains grim. The city’s residents continue to suffer from inadequate water supply, and the gap between official assurances and actual delivery is evident.
Residents’ struggles
Residents from various parts of Guwahati have expressed their frustration.
A GMC Road resident stated, “We have been waiting for a reliable water supply for years. The pipes installed by JICA have yet to benefit us. We are forced to depend on private boreholes, paying Rs 600 monthly, and face water cut-offs if payments are delayed.”
He further censured the state of infrastructure, saying, "They claim there will be road construction, but the conditions remain poor. Recently, a young boy died after falling into a drain from a scooter, and there have been numerous accidents involving overturned vehicles."
In Sweeper Colony, Rupnagar, another resident echoed similar grievances: "For 70-80 years, there has been no reliable water supply here. Our well, which was installed long ago, is now useless. The water is contaminated, and we are left with rainwater. We spend Rs 200-250 for just 700 liters of water, which is insufficient. Our monthly expenditure on water reaches Rs 5,000-6,000."
Ashok Singhal, Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs and Irrigation, acknowledged the crisis, stating, "Guwahati has two major ongoing projects funded by JICA and the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). However, both projects faced delays due to contractor bankruptcies. The JNNURM project, initially handled by the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), was retendered and awarded to L&T, while the JICA project is being managed by the Jal Board. We have made significant progress, with around 40,000 connections provided and approximately 22,000 households already connected. We are confident that the JICA project will be completed this year."
Despite these assurances, residents' experiences paint a starkly different picture. According to the Jal Jeevan Mission’s website, 62,471 households in Kamrup Metro are registered for water supply, with 54,928 receiving benefits.
However, the daily struggles faced by residents highlight a discrepancy between official figures and ground reality.
A resident from Jayanagar expressed ongoing frustrations, "In Biswajyoti Path, 6 Mile, Jayanagar, we face a severe water supply problem. We haven’t had any water supply facilities for years. During the monsoon, we get some water from our wells, but in the dry season, we have had to purchase drinking water for the past 12-15 years. Despite the flood issues, we still lack a reliable water source."
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