Guwahati Citizens' Forum Demands Urgent Action on Severe Water Crisis
In a significant development, members of the Citizens' United Forum in Guwahati have issued a strong call for immediate government intervention to address the city's escalating water crisis. The forum has demanded a comprehensive audit, a high-level investigation into alleged corruption, and an urgent halt on permitting constructions of multi-storey buildings in areas that lack public water supply infrastructure.
Critical Water Shortage Exposes Systemic Failures
On Tuesday, the forum intensified its demands, urging the government to fix accountability for stalled water projects and ensure universal access to safe drinking water for all residents. Deepak Goswami, the chief convenor of the forum, revealed alarming statistics, stating that barely one-third of Guwahati's households are currently covered under government water supply schemes.
The remaining two-thirds of the population faces severe challenges:
- Dependence on tube wells for groundwater extraction
- Reliance on expensive and unregulated water tankers
- In fringe and hill areas, continued use of streams for drinking water
"In the absence of adequate public supply, unchecked extraction has led to a sharp decline in the city's groundwater levels," Goswami emphasized, highlighting the environmental consequences of the ongoing crisis.
Failed Water Projects Spanning Nearly Two Decades
The forum presented a detailed analysis of multiple water supply projects that have failed to deliver promised outcomes over the last 17 years, representing what they describe as systemic failure in urban water management.
The South-West Guwahati Water Supply Project, initiated in 2009, has so far failed to provide water connections even to 1,000 households despite years of implementation.
The South-Central Guwahati project, launched in 2011 with funding from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has shown only partial progress and has not yet covered even half of the city's households.
The North-Guwahati project, the smallest among the four major initiatives, has not yet connected a single household to the water supply network.
Most concerning is the South-East Guwahati project, approved in 2013, which has remained completely stalled for the past seven years due to lack of funds, leaving thousands of residents without reliable water access.
Allegations of Irregularities and Corruption
The forum raised serious allegations of irregularities, particularly in the south-east project, where contractors reportedly withdrew large mobilization advances without executing the promised work. These allegations have raised significant concerns over the proper utilization of public funds and the transparency of project implementation.
"We demand a comprehensive CAG audit of quality issues and for the CBI to investigate irregularities already flagged in the CAG report of 2024 regarding the south-west water supply project," Goswami stated firmly, calling for institutional accountability.
Government Response and Future Dialogue
An official from the Guwahati Jal Board responded to the forum's concerns, assuring that these issues would be heard and discussed with citizens in due course. However, the forum maintains that immediate action is necessary to prevent further deterioration of the water situation and to address what they perceive as governance failures in urban water management.
The Citizens' United Forum's demands highlight a growing public frustration with infrastructure delays and alleged mismanagement, putting pressure on authorities to demonstrate tangible progress in resolving Guwahati's persistent water crisis.
