Silchar's Flood Wall Project Stalls, Monsoon Fears Rise After 4-Year Delay
With the monsoon season rapidly approaching, anxieties over urban flooding have resurfaced in Silchar, a key town in south Assam. The Rangirkhal guard wall project, a critical flood-mitigation initiative, remains mired in significant delays—four full years after its foundation stone was ceremoniously laid.
The Critical Role of Rangirkhal
Rangirkhal serves as one of Silchar's primary natural drainage channels, functioning as a crucial artery that carries storm water and sewage directly into the Ghagra river. The health and functionality of this waterway directly determine the vulnerability of numerous low-lying localities, particularly the densely populated areas of Greater Bilpar and New Silchar, to severe waterlogging during periods of heavy rainfall.
Originating from Mohisha Beel near the Barak river in the eastern part of the town, Rangirkhal runs for nearly 17 kilometers across Silchar before finally draining out. It stands among several other vital natural channels—including Longaikhal, Boaljurkhal, and Berakhal—that together form the essential backbone of the town's entire drainage system. However, decades of rapid urbanisation, rampant encroachment, and the indiscriminate dumping of garbage have severely choked the channel over the years, leading to recurring and often devastating artificial flooding every monsoon season.
A Project Mired in Stagnation
The guard wall project was announced as a key flood-mitigation measure following the catastrophic deluge of 2022. Despite this urgent need, residents report that the project has made disappointingly little headway. In the current dry season, construction activity has been minimal, with barely 100 meters of the proposed guard wall completed. Alarmingly, close to 10 kilometers of the proposed stretch remains completely untouched and unprepared.
Local sources indicate that only token construction activity was undertaken behind the Silchar cremation ground during this season. Furthermore, work near the critical Chandicharan Road junction reportedly stalled soon after commencement due to a combination of persistent technical and administrative hurdles. Compounding these issues, allegations of irregularities have also surfaced, with fingers being pointed directly at the public works department overseeing the project.
A Timeline of Delayed Promises
On November 29, 2022, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma personally laid the foundation stone for the construction of guard walls on both sides of Rangirkhal. Four entire dry seasons have since passed, providing ample opportunity for progress. Yet, apart from sporadic and inconsistent work, the project has shown little to no tangible progress, leaving residents increasingly frustrated and fearful as another monsoon looms.
The continued stagnation of this vital infrastructure project highlights broader challenges in urban planning and disaster preparedness for Silchar. With the natural drainage system compromised and mitigation efforts stalled, the community braces for potential flooding, underscoring the urgent need for administrative action and project acceleration to safeguard homes and livelihoods.
