Guwahati’s rapid urban growth is leading to the loss of its hills and wetlands, which previously absorbed monsoon rains. Construction of buildings and infrastructure is choking natural drainage systems, resulting in what are described as “artificial floods.”
Historically, low-lying areas and wetlands like Silsako Beel served as natural sponges. However, decades of filling these areas and narrowing natural channels have reduced their capacity. Silsako Beel has shrunk significantly, and ongoing eviction drives aim to reclaim land. Similarly, Deepor Beel, a Ramsar site, is losing water spread to urbanisation and suffers from pollution.
The piece argues that nature should be considered essential infrastructure for the city’s survival. While acknowledging the need for development, it suggests that growth does not have to come at the expense of the landscape, proposing a vision where the city can expand without losing the natural elements that maintain its habitability.
Source: Down To Earth