‘Time to Deal with Problem of Flooding in Assam’: Gauhati HC

The Gauhati High Court has emphasized the urgent need to address the flooding issue in Guwahati, asserting that the government must take decisive action to resolve the problem permanently.

This directive followed a writ petition filed by the North East Eco Development Society concerning waterlogging in the city.

A bench of Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Suman Shyam, instructed the government to present a plan to mitigate the crisis.

The Court acknowledged that the petition was not initially scheduled for hearing on Wednesday. However, following a mention by Gauhati Bar Association President Kamal Nayan Choudhury on Tuesday about the flooding issue from the previous day, the matter was expedited before the Bench.

“Mr. Choudhury has drawn our attention to the flood situation Guwahati experienced on Monday. The media has extensively covered the situation and the distress faced by Guwahati’s residents,” the court noted.

On 5^th August, residents of Guwahati encountered severe difficulties after a heavy rainfall inundated nearly all peripheral roads, leaving individuals stranded in their vehicles for seven to eight hours until midnight. Students who had left schools in the afternoon remained stuck on their buses until 11 pm.

“Taking into consideration the fact situation, we are of the view that now time has come to deal with the problem of waterlogging/flooding in the Guwahati city and the State is required to take steps for resolving this problem permanently,” the bench remarked.

Subsequently, the Court asked Advocate General Devajit Saikia to assist on behalf of the government, with Choudhury serving as amicus curiae.

“It is appropriate to allow Mr. Saikia some time to present the existing and future comprehensive plans to tackle waterlogging and flooding in Guwahati by the next hearing,” the court added.

Additionally, the Principal Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs has been asked to file an affidavit. Previously, on June 26, the High Court criticized the Assam government for its lack of seriousness in addressing the ongoing waterlogging issues in the state capital, imposing a fine of Rs 1,000 each on four concerned departments for failing to respond to repeated notices.

On Monday, after two hours of intense rain in the afternoon, flooding intensified in the evening as office-goers left their workplaces. The rainfall led to knee-deep water across major and minor roads and numerous residential areas, with water levels reaching chest height in some locations.