HT Correspondent
SIVASAGAR, June 23: A spell of intense rainfall lasting barely two and a half hours on Monday plunged the historic temple town of Sivasagar into chaos, exposing its crumbling drainage infrastructure and lack of urban planning.
Roads in the town’s commercial hub, including Central Market, Doulmukh Chariali, Boarding Road, and the ONGC Colony, were submerged in filthy water overflowing from clogged and open drains, severely affecting residents, students, and businesses.
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Despite its long history, Sivasagar town remains without a comprehensive master drainage plan.
The existing drainage system—century-old kutcha gutters running along either side of AT Road—has not been modernised.
Although the Sivasagar Municipality Board (SMB), established in 1916, has recently converted parts of Boarding Road drains into concrete structures using grants from the 15th Finance Commission, these have failed to address the core issue.
Due to the absence of a proper gradient, waterlogging has worsened in areas like Muktinath Chariali, triggering public frustration.
Several residents and senior citizens allege poor quality control in infrastructure works carried out under the Board’s supervision.
Contractors, reportedly close to the inner circle of the municipality, have been accused of executing substandard projects with little regard for long-term functionality or public welfare.
Speaking to this correspondent, SMB Chairperson Mrinali Konwar admitted that the Board lacks adequate funds to construct proper drainage along the AT Road.
She said she had already written to the Chief Minister seeking financial assistance.
Konwar also stated that over the last three to four years, more than ₹1 crore had been spent on drainage works, yet many remain incomplete or ineffective due to poor execution and lack of professional oversight.
A glaring example of faulty planning lies in the drain meant to collect stormwater from Old Amolapatty and Phukan Nagar.
It remains unfinished for over a year, choking water flow into the main tunnel that ultimately drains into the Jamuna canal.
At Station Chariali Bazar, a 90-degree turn in the tunnel is partially covered with steel sheets by a private business for car parking, further obstructing the natural watercourse.
Drainage near the Central Market area also lacks proper slope and gradient, preventing effective runoff.
Urban planners blame decades of neglect and encroachment on natural water channels as the main causes of flash floods in the town.
The Jamuna Canal and the Mori Dikhow channel, once vital lifelines, have lost much of their water-carrying capacity due to heavy siltation.
Another lost reservoir, the Tengani Bill in the heart of the town, was levelled and converted into a modern stadium using truckloads of earth, removing yet another natural buffer against floods.
Encroachment on water bodies by land grabbers has further worsened the town’s vulnerability to flooding.
One of the worst-affected institutions during such events is Fuleswari Girls’ High School, whose entire campus goes underwater every time it rains heavily.
The school authorities had earlier appealed to the former Deputy Commissioner for desilting and restoring the Jamuna canal but received no response.
Now, the School Management and Development Committee (SMDC) hopes the newly appointed DC Ayush Garg will take necessary action.
As the town continues to suffer after every shower, the lack of long-term vision, poor execution of infrastructure, and absence of accountability threaten to undermine Sivasagar’s stature as one of Assam’s most historically significant towns.
