GUWAHATI: Every Sunday morning, while most of Guwahati is still waking up, a few citizens gather quietly by the banks of Dighalipukhuri with gloves, bags, and a deep sense of responsibility. They come not as part of any organised body, but as individuals united by one goal to keep the iconic waterbody clean. Yet, despite their sustained efforts over months, they say they have seen no concrete support from the authorities.
Dighalipukhuri, located in the heart of Guwahati, is more than just a pond. It is a historic site, a tourist spot, and a green refuge in the middle of a rapidly urbanising city. But in recent years, it has also become a dumping ground for plastic wrappers, bottles, and food waste.
Talking to GPlus, Milin Dutta, one of the active participants of the citizen-led clean-up drive, said, “We were only four of us on Sunday. We segregated the non-biodegradable waste and collected around 25 kg of plastic and other dry waste. We even fished out trash directly from the Pukhuri. Every week, people continue to throw stuff inside.”
Dutta and his group have been conducting clean-up drives almost every Sunday since November 2024. The first drive itself, he recalled, resulted in the removal of nearly 950 kg of plastic waste. But the problem, he said, has remained unchanged. “There are designated bamboo bins placed along the walkway. But still, visitors don’t use them. It’s disheartening to see the same type of waste return week after week,” he added.
Another concerned citizen involved in the clean-up told GPlus, “We have been doing this for a long time now. It’s not something we should have to do. A place like this should be maintained regularly by the authorities.”
Despite the public commitment of time and energy, citizens say there has been no visible effort by the departments responsible particularly the Assam Tourism Department and the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) — to maintain cleanliness at the site.
However, questions remain about coordination between departments. Responding to the issue, a Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) official told GPlus, “It is not our responsibility and not under our jurisdiction to clean inside Dighalipukhuri. But whenever we can, we clean outside Dighalipukhuri when the wastes are kept outside.”
However, talking to GPlus, a senior official from the Assam Tourism Department said, “The tender for maintenance of Dighalipukhuri has been floated, and one of the agencies has been selected. The name will be announced soon. We are looking forward.”