Guwahati, the largest city in Assam, continues to grapple with a delayed and inefficient urban water supply system, with several key water supply schemes still incomplete even after two decades of planning and implementation.
Despite being identified as a priority, the progress of these projects has been sluggish, exacerbating the city’s ongoing water crisis and highlighting a broader issue of infrastructure development across the state.According to a recent report by the Departmentally Related Standing Committee (DRSC) on the Housing and Urban Affairs Department, the state’s ambitious plan to implement 78 urban water supply schemes (WSS) across 59 towns has yet to bear fruit. While the Assam Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board (AUWS&SB) has received funding from various central and state schemes, only 26 of these projects have been fully commissioned. This leaves many urban areas still dependent on unreliable, inefficient, and outdated water systems that struggle to meet the needs of growing populations.
The report reveals that while some schemes are nearing completion, the majority remain far from their intended targets. For example, in Guwahati’s neighbouring towns, progress remains patchy: the Gohpur Water Supply Scheme is only 70 percent complete, while the Bihpuria scheme lags behind at 56 percent.
Other schemes, such as those in Barpeta Road, Makum, and Dhemaji, have made even less headway, with completion rates as low as 5 percent in Dhemaji and just 25 percent in Doomdooma. Such delays not only prolong the water scarcity issues but also compromise the quality of life for residents who face unreliable access to safe drinking water.In response, some schemes have been partially implemented, with certain urban areas receiving limited relief. Among the more notable advancements, seven water supply schemes have been granted administrative approval under the 6th Assam State Finance Commission, and work has already begun on these projects.
Additionally, the Digboi Town Water Supply Scheme, funded by the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme, is under construction, offering hope for improved water access in the region. Similarly, water supply schemes in towns like Nagaon, Dibrugarh, and Silchar are also progressing under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).However, despite these efforts, the overall pace of implementation remains troublingly slow. Even as new projects begin, the state continues to struggle with meeting its most basic water supply needs. The delays are compounded by a lack of robust coordination between different agencies, insufficient monitoring of ongoing projects, and, at times, a lack of political will to expedite essential services.
Furthermore, environmental concerns are also at play, as inadequate waste and sewage management infrastructure adds to the water pollution problem in these urban areas. The AUWS&SB’s plans to develop sewerage treatment plants, like the 2.0 MLD treatment plant in Nagaon, show promise but remain insufficient in scope to address the widespread pollution and waste management challenges.The slow-moving nature of urban water supply reforms underscores a deeper issue in Assam’s urban planning and governance. While funds are being allocated and approvals granted, it is clear that without a concerted push towards streamlined execution and accountability, Assam’s urban centres, including Guwahati, will continue to face water shortages and pollution challenges for years to come. To meet the growing demands of urban populations and ensure equitable access to clean water, urgent reforms in infrastructure development and project management are needed.
