Assam Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Kaushik Rai participated in a series of programmes aimed at strengthening urban infrastructure, improving civic governance and promoting cleanliness and sustainable waste management in Guwahati.
The day began with a review meeting on Mission Flood-Free Guwahati at the Assam Secretariat in presence of Chief Secretary, Assam Dr Ravi Kota, where the Minister deliberated on the challenges, existing shortcomings and necessary interventions to address the recurring urban flooding problem in the city.
The meeting reviewed the preparedness of various agencies ahead of the 2027 monsoon and their proposed action plans.
A key focus was the systematic cleaning and desilting of drains under a proposed year-round Standard Operating Procedure (SoP), covering all drains across Guwahati.
The drains have been categorised into three priority groups with prescribed desilting schedules to ensure timely maintenance.
Emphasising coordinated action, accountability and regular monitoring, the Minister directed all concerned agencies to ensure time-bound execution of the proposed interventions well before the next monsoon, with a focus on sustainable solutions for a flood-resilient Guwahati.
Subsequently, Rai chaired a video conference with the District Commissioners of all districts in presence of the Commissioner and Secretary, DoHUA and Director Municipal Administration to discuss the constitution of new Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in eligible areas and delimitation of existing ULBs across Assam.
He directed all District Commissioners to submit their respective proposals by November 10, 2026, so that these could be placed before the Cabinet for consideration and approval at the earliest.
He emphasised a systematic and time-bound approach, taking into account the prescribed criteria and local requirements, to strengthen urban governance and improve the delivery of civic services.
As part of the city’s efforts towards scientific solid waste management, the Minister inaugurated the Static Refuse Transfer Station (RTS)-cum-Material Recovery Facility (MRF) at Adabari, Guwahati.
With a processing capacity of 150 tonnes per day (TPD) for the Refuse Transfer Station and 100 TPD for the Material Recovery Facility, the facility is expected to improve waste transportation efficiency, facilitate scientific waste handling and enhance the recovery of recyclable materials, contributing towards a cleaner and more sustainable city.
The Minister also attended the award distribution ceremony of the Swachh Durga Puja Competition 2026 organised by GMC and launched the Swachhata Sakhi App at Damodardev International Auditorium, Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra, Guwahati.
A total of 175 Durga Puja committees were awarded for their commendable efforts in maintaining cleanliness and adopting environmentally responsible practices during the festive celebrations.
On the occasion, Rai also distributed Government of India’s NAMASTE cards to five Safai Karmacharis, acknowledging their vital contribution.
Addressing the importance of collective responsibility, the Minister emphasised that cleanliness cannot be achieved through municipal efforts alone but requires active participation and a sense of civic responsibility among citizens.
He observed that the Swachhata Sakhi App would further strengthen citizen engagement and make cleanliness initiatives more accessible and effective.
He congratulated the award-winning Puja committees and appreciated GMC for its initiative in promoting cleanliness and environmental consciousness through community participation.
The Flood Free Guwahati meeting was attended by Mrigen Sarania, Mayor, GMC; Kavitha Padmanabhan, Commissioner and Secretary, DoHUA; Swapnil Paul, District Commissioner, Kamrup Metropolitan; Sanjeev Syam, Commissioner and Secretary, PWD; Chinmoy Prakash Phookan, Commissioner, GMC along with representatives of concerned departments and agencies.
On ther other hand, the Minister inaugurated the garbage centre in the presence of GMC authority and Hemanta Chaudhury, OSD to Chief Minister and award distribution ceremony was attended by Bijuli Kalita Medhi, MP, Guwahati; Dipluranjan Sarma, MLA, New Guwahati; Bijay Kumar Gupta, MLA, Central Guwahati along with Mayor, GMC, Smita Roy, Deputy Mayor, GMC; OSD to the Chief Minister, Asim Saikia, GMC Councillor and other elected representatives, officials and dignitaries.
Through these initiatives, the State government reaffirmed its commitment to building a cleaner, better-managed, more resilient and sustainably developed Guwahati, while strengthening urban governance across Assam.