Guwahati's water crisis deepens as projects stall and taps run dry
Guwahati's rapid growth has left many residents struggling with an unreliable water supply. Despite ongoing projects, households still depend on private tankers, borewells, and ageing pipelines that often fail to deliver. The city's water infrastructure, split across multiple schemes, has faced delays and coordination issues for years.
The city's water supply plan includes four major projects, each funded and managed by different agencies. This fragmented approach has led to uneven progress and persistent gaps in service. Among them, the South Central Guwahati Water Supply Project stands out as the most advanced, connecting around 60,000 households. Yet even here, supply remains inconsistent, with frequent interruptions and incomplete coverage in crowded neighbourhoods.
The South West Guwahati Water Supply Project, designed to serve about 4,500 households, is only 70% complete. So far, just 10 of the 53 planned Distribution Metered Areas have been commissioned. Officials point to technical hurdles, land acquisition delays, and the challenge of coordinating between multiple agencies as key reasons for the slow pace.
Residents have grown frustrated, accusing authorities of focusing on high-profile urban projects while neglecting basic needs. Many continue to rely on costly private tankers or overused borewells, with no clear timeline for reliable municipal supply. Experts stress that long-term solutions must go beyond construction, addressing source protection, efficient distribution, and regular maintenance to prevent future shortages.
For now, Guwahati's water crisis persists, with incomplete projects and patchy infrastructure leaving thousands without dependable access. Authorities face pressure to speed up construction, improve coordination, and ensure that existing systems function as intended. Without sustained effort, the gap between demand and supply is likely to widen further.
