The once peaceful and organised neighbourhood of Bamunimaidan has fallen into a state of utter disrepair, as relentless construction projects, waterlogging, and negligence from the authorities have created an environment hazardous to both public health and daily life. For over a month, residents, business owners, and commuters alike have been grappling with severe waterlogging, worsened by construction debris irresponsibly dumped into the already strained drainage system. The resulting blockage has led to stagnant, foul-smelling water flooding the streets, turning the area into a breeding ground for disease and an inconvenience for all.
ALSO READ: Guwahati’s Waste Threat To Deepor Beel’s Agricultural Land
The construction work, part of an ongoing flyover project intended to connect Dighalipukhuri to Bamunimaidan, has disrupted not only traffic but also the daily lives of residents. Piles of construction materials and debris, including timber, concrete chunks, and assorted waste, have been haphazardly thrown into the drains that run alongside the roads. With the drains blocked, water has nowhere to go but onto the streets, creating mini-lakes of stagnant, dirty water throughout the area. Despite continuous complaints from residents and business owners, the authorities have remained largely indifferent to the situation.
The waterlogging has caused significant health and hygiene concerns. The once-well-maintained roads are now flooded with filthy, contaminated water that not only emits a nauseating stench but has also made the area nearly impossible to traverse on foot. Wooden planks and makeshift bridges have been placed over the flooded streets in an attempt to provide some sort of passage for pedestrians, but these are far from a practical solution. “It’s as if we’re living in a village during the monsoons,” said Monjit Haloi, a local shopkeeper. “We have to use wooden planks and benches to cross the streets, like we’re living in some backward place. This is not what Bamunimaidan used to be.”
The foul smell from the stagnant water pervades the air, making it unbearable for those who live and work nearby. “The stench is absolutely revolting,” said Dharitri Das, a resident. “It’s in the air all the time, whether it’s day or night. And now we’re hearing about people falling ill from the water. It’s just a matter of time before a real outbreak of disease happens.”
Indeed, diseases like dengue and cholera have already begun spreading in the neighbourhood. With standing water providing an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes, cases of dengue fever have surged in recent weeks. Local clinics and hospitals have reported an uptick in patients complaining of fever and other symptoms associated with the disease. “This place is becoming a health disaster,” said a local physician. “It’s not just the risk of dengue – the stagnant water can carry all kinds of bacteria, and there have already been reports of waterborne diseases spreading in the area. The authorities need to act fast, or we’re going to see a much bigger health crisis here.”
For business owners in Bamunimaidan, the situation has been particularly devastating. Once a bustling commercial area with regular foot traffic, the neighbourhood has now seen a sharp decline in business as customers avoid the area altogether. The combination of construction chaos, filthy streets, and a potential health hazard has deterred many from visiting. “People don’t want to come here anymore,” expressed Sujit Deka, who owns a small grocery shop. “They avoid the area like the plague. My sales have dropped by more than 50 per cent in the last two months. How can we survive like this? The authorities have created this mess, and now we’re the ones paying the price.”
The frustration among Bamunimaidan’s residents and business owners is palpable, and their complaints have largely fallen on deaf ears. An official from the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) was quick to downplay the concerns when approached for comment. “The debris is mostly of timbre,” he remarked dismissively. “It will decompose over time.” This casual attitude towards the severity of the situation has only further enraged the local community, who feel that the authorities are ignoring their plight and failing to recognise the gravity of the situation.
As if the blocked drains and waterlogging were not enough, the installation of streetlight poles right in the middle of the already clogged drains has added another layer of absurdity to the situation. Instead of placing the poles in more appropriate locations, workers have inexplicably erected them directly in the drainage lines, further increasing the waterlogging issue. “It’s sheer madness,” said Ranjan Bora, a commuter who regularly travels through Bamunimaidan. “Who puts streetlight poles in the middle of a drain? It’s almost as if they want to make the situation worse. It’s dangerous, too – the poles are unprotected and right next to where people are walking through water. Someone is going to get electrocuted one of these days.”
With the drains blocked by debris and the streets submerged in water, pedestrians have found it nearly impossible to walk through the area safely. Many have slipped and fallen on the waterlogged roads, while others have had to wade through knee-deep water just to get to work or go about their daily routines. For the elderly and those with limited mobility, the situation is even more perilous. “I’ve fallen twice trying to cross the street,” said Parvati Devi, a 72-year-old resident. “The roads are so slippery, and the water is filthy. I don’t know how long we can live like this.”
Despite the overwhelming public outcry, there has been little in the way of concrete action from the authorities. While the GMC has made occasional promises to clear the debris and improve the drainage system, no significant progress has been made. In the meantime, the residents of Bamunimaidan are left to contend with a neighbourhood that more closely resembles a disaster zone than a part of a growing city.
“The government is focused on building flyovers and roads, but what about the people who live here?” asked Prabhat Dutta, a long-time resident of Bamunimaidan. “They seem to care more about big projects than they do about the actual wellbeing of the people. We’re living in filth, and they don’t seem to notice. If this is what progress looks like, I’d rather go back to the way things were.”
The situation in Bamunimaidan raises serious questions about the priorities of the city’s development agenda. While the flyover and other construction projects may be acclaimed as symbols of modernisation, the day-to-day realities for those living in the area paint a far grimmer picture. Without proper planning and coordination among the various departments involved, these projects have turned Bamunimaidan into a nightmare for its residents.
The waterlogged streets, foul-smelling air, and spread of disease make it clear that urgent action is needed. Proper safety measures, timely removal of debris, and better drainage management must be prioritised if Bamunimaidan is to recover from this current state of disrepair. The authorities need to step up, recognise the severity of the problem, and take responsibility for the mess they have created.
Until then, the residents of Bamunimaidan can only watch as their neighbourhood, once a symbol of order and calm, continues to sink deeper into filth and chaos, while the promises of development seem ever more distant.
