Guwahati: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma directed the housing and urban affairs department to take up the development of a wetland in the Rupnagar-Srimantapur area of Guwahati, with emphasis on preserving its role as a natural water-retention space.Speaking at the inauguration of the integrated district commissioner’s office on Wednesday, Sarma said, “I request that steps be taken to ensure that this wetland is conserved; otherwise, there is a possibility that construction may eventually take place in the area, depriving it of its water-retention capacity.”Sarma also directed Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) to protect the wetland from degradation and develop it in a manner that would help retain rainwater naturally.“I will request GMDA to preserve the wetland and develop it as a natural water-retention space. If the wetland is properly developed and beautified, it may not become another Dighalipukhuri, but we can certainly have a water body that is at least one-fourth the size of Dighalipukhuri here. I have visited the site several times, and I hope the district administration and the GMDA will take immediate steps in this regard,” Sarma said.Housing and urban affairs minister Kaushik Rai, in a social media post, highlighted GMDA’s efforts to preserve and rejuvenate wetlands in various parts of Guwahati.“Regarding the wetland in Rupnagar, steps will soon be initiated under the department to preserve the land and undertake its beautification and overall development,” Rai said.The proposal comes amid concerns over urban flooding and waterlogging in Guwahati. The loss and degradation of natural wetlands and drainage channels have reduced the city’s capacity to absorb excess rainwater during periods of heavy rainfall.Officials said the proposed development would focus on retaining the wetland’s natural character while improving its capacity to store and regulate excess water. Such water bodies can serve as temporary reservoirs during intense rainfall, reducing immediate pressure on the city’s drainage network.Assam is also implementing the Sustainable Wetland and Integrated Fisheries Transformation (SWIFT) project, funded by Asian Development Bank, to restore and sustainably manage around 102 wetlands covering about 3,000 hectares across the state. The project has an estimated cost of Rs 796.88 crore.
