The Rs 222.22-crore urban flood mitigation project sanctioned for Guwahati is currently at different stages of implementation, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha, while stating that its effectiveness in reducing flooding and waterlogging can be assessed only after substantial progress is made.
The project has been taken up under Phase II of the Centre’s Urban Flood Risk Management Programme (UFRMP), through which 11 cities have been selected for financial support from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF).
Of the total Rs 222.22 crore approved for Guwahati, the Centre has sanctioned Rs 180 crore as assistance from the NDMF. So far, Rs 54 crore has been released, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said in the Lok Sabha.
Rai provided the details in a written response to a question in the House, adding that the project is being implemented by the concerned state government under the UFRMP.
The Centre expects the projects under the programme to improve stormwater drainage, reduce urban flooding and waterlogging, strengthen road connectivity and make drainage systems more resilient.
The Guwahati project is particularly significant as the city frequently experiences severe waterlogging and urban flooding during periods of heavy rainfall. Upgrading stormwater drainage infrastructure is expected to improve the city’s capacity to handle excess rainwater and minimise disruptions caused by flooding.
However, the Centre said it was too early to assess the actual impact of the project. A city-specific evaluation of its effectiveness in reducing flooding and waterlogging will be possible only after adequate implementation, it said.
Rai added that the progress of the projects is being regularly monitored through periodic meetings conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Disaster Management Authority to ensure their timely completion.
