While the promise of expediting the project is encouraging, the delay from the originally planned start date has made citizens question the government’s ability to deliver
In a move aimed at tackling Guwahati’s longstanding sanitation crisis, the Assam Cabinet had in November last year sanctioned ₹1,460.37 crore for the Guwahati Sewerage Project. Assisted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), this initiative is expected to deliver the city’s first structured sewage collection and treatment system. Designed to serve over a lakh households in South-Central Guwahati, the project aims to combat both sanitation issues and environmental pollution, both of which have plagued the city for years.
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However, with a projected five-year timeline for completion and nearly two years passing since the official start date without visible progress, doubts are already emerging over whether this project will materialise as promised or suffer the fate of previous delayed infrastructure ventures in Assam’s capital.
The scale of the project underscores the urgency of the challenge. It involves constructing three major sewage treatment plants with a combined treatment capacity of 187 million litres per day (MLD). These plants are to be strategically positioned at Silsako Beel (65 MLD), Borsola Beel (62 MLD), and Paschim Boragaon (60 MLD). Additionally, an extensive sewerage network spanning 872 kilometres—along with 1.191 kilometres planned using trenchless methods—will cover the city’s densely populated southern and central zones. In a first for Guwahati, a 40 KLD Faecal Sludge and Septage Treatment Plant has also been included to manage waste from households that are not connected to the main sewerage system, reflecting a comprehensive approach to waste management in one of Assam’s most rapidly urbanising areas.
Despite being the largest city in the Northeast, Guwahati has lacked a structured sewerage system, resulting in worsening conditions in local water bodies. Rising pollution levels in the city’s rivers, lakes, and ponds have negatively impacted both human health and the environment. The new sewerage infrastructure promises to alleviate this burden by preventing untreated sewage discharge and subsequent contamination.
The JICA-backed project forms part of a broader collaboration between Japan and India, with JICA being India’s largest bilateral donor for infrastructure and social development. In recent years, JICA has financed various Indian projects in sectors such as water supply, sanitation, transportation, and disaster management. Through Guwahati’s Sewerage Project, JICA aims to introduce a modern system that could serve as a model for other fast-growing cities in the region. However, while this partnership underscores the commitment of both governments to improving urban infrastructure, it also raises questions about India’s increasing reliance on foreign assistance to address gaps in local expertise and resources.
Despite the project’s ambitious vision, its implementation has been marred by delays, fuelling scepticism among residents. An official overseeing the project previously stated, “An order was signed earlier on October 29 for initiation. The duration for entire completion will be around eight years, but we will try to complete it earlier.”
On March 13, 2025, Assam’s Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Jayanta Malla Baruah, confirmed that the plan had been approved, and the budget allocated. A project official told GPlus, “We have begun with the survey. It is basically a drone survey, and in the first phase, we will focus on the Borsola and Paschim Boragaon plants. We are working at pace to meet the deadline announced by the minister.”
While the promise of expediting the project is encouraging, the delay from the originally planned start date has made citizens question the government’s ability to deliver. According to data available on the Gati Shakti India Investment Grid, the project was officially scheduled to commence on April 4, 2022, with an expected completion date of 2030.
For many residents, such scepticism is justified. Guwahati has witnessed multiple grand infrastructure projects announced with enthusiasm, only to be abandoned or delayed indefinitely.
A business owner from the city’s Central area expressed his frustration, stating, “We keep hearing about new schemes, but rarely do they come to fruition. Eight years is a long time to wait, and we have doubts if it will even be completed by then.” His concerns echo those of many who have been let down by previous projects marred by mismanagement and government inaction.
Experts in urban development share similar apprehensions. “Guwahati has a track record of infrastructure projects either overshooting budgets or getting delayed indefinitely,” said a city-based urban planner. “If this project does not progress as planned, it could worsen an already dire public health situation.” Any delay in implementation could result in further contamination of local water bodies, with untreated sewage continuing to pollute rivers and lakes. Given that many residents rely on these water sources, such setbacks could have severe consequences.
Environmentalists have also raised red flags over the project’s slow start. “For a city like Guwahati, the absence of sewage treatment poses major risks to water quality and public health,” warned a representative from an environmental group. “The government must expedite crucial projects like this and ensure transparency in the process.” Without strict monitoring and adherence to timelines, the project’s promise of reducing pollution and improving sanitation may remain unfulfilled.
Past failures in urban development further fuel public doubt. Flood control efforts, road development schemes, and waste management projects have all suffered from delays, budget overruns, and poor execution. The city’s recent road restoration initiative, for instance, was significantly hindered by inter-departmental conflicts and poor contractor coordination. Residents now fear that the sewerage project will face similar hurdles, wasting both time and taxpayers’ money.
The Assam government’s commitment of ₹1,460 crore is undoubtedly a substantial investment in the city’s sanitation infrastructure, but the absence of clear communication and regular updates has only increased scepticism. Many experts argue that greater transparency, along with a structured timeline and monitoring mechanism, is essential to restoring public confidence. Regular status updates and engagement with local communities could help prevent unforeseen roadblocks during execution.
If completed as planned, the Guwahati Sewerage Project could serve as a benchmark for waste management in other Indian cities, providing a much-needed solution to the city’s mounting environmental and health challenges. However, with progress yet to be seen on the ground, questions over its feasibility continue to grow.
For now, Guwahati’s residents can only wait and watch. Will this ambitious initiative finally transform the city’s sanitation system, or will it become another symbol of bureaucratic inefficiency? The answer lies in the hands of the authorities responsible for delivering on their promises.
