Shillong: Assam Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Kaushik Rai told the Legislative Assembly that Guwahati's long-delayed water supply projects will wrap up by December. Work on these Japan International Cooperation Agency funded schemes began in 2012. Progress stalled for over a decade. The South-Central Guwahati project hit 96.75 percent completion, while the North Guwahati project sits at 95.75 percent.
Total spending on these two projects reached Rs 1,450.87 crore. This includes Rs 1,425.93 crore from JICA loans and another Rs 24.95 crore from state funds. The South-Central scheme currently serves 83,569 households. The North Guwahati project aims to reach another 15,000 once fully operational.
Minister Rai confirmed the South-West Guwahati Water Supply Project reached 72 percent completion. That work started under the Guwahati Jal Board in October 2023. Officials expect that project to finish by mid-2027 at a cost of Rs 324.35 crore. Meanwhile, the South-East Guwahati project remains a long-term goal. It aims for a May 2029 completion date with support from the New Development Bank.
The city still faces a massive supply gap. Surveys show Guwahati needs water connections for roughly 2.21 lakh households. Addressing the project delays, the Minister noted, "Work on both projects commenced in March 2012 and was initially scheduled for completion within 36 months and 28 months, respectively." Beyond the Jal Board projects, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation continues running older schemes in Panbazar, Satpukhuri, and Kamakhya. These legacy systems currently serve about 21,000 consumers.
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