Guwahati: For the 249,756 voters of Dispur, this year’s election is about more than political choice. Residents say it is about everyday survival.From clogged drains and streets submerged after a brief spell of rain to the persistent struggle for potable water, voters across the constituency say their patience is running out.
After the 2023 delimitation exercise, the assembly constituency now comprises 13 Guwahati Municipal Corporation wards. As the premium urban constituency representing the capital area, Dispur is often watched closely. But for voters, the contest is less about party lines and more about who can address mounting urban problems.Ranjan Kalita, a voter from Rukminigaon, an area hit hard by urban flooding linked to encroachments and poor drainage, said, “This is something we need to get rid of, as flooding in our area severely affects our lives. There have been days when my child missed school, which impacted his studies. At times, we have had to carry the deceased through floodwaters to ambulances, as they refused to enter the area. When Atul Bora was our MLA, he never visited our locality to understand our problems. That is why we now expect someone who recognizes the seriousness of our situation and takes immediate action.”The constituency has remained under the grip of BJP. In Feb, housing and urban affairs minister Jayanta Mallabarua laid the foundation stone for a project aimed at tackling urban flooding. Residents said the work has been temporarily halted because of the model code of conduct. They are also worried that even if work resumes, it will not be completed before the monsoon.While Beltola and Sijubari remain the best-known flood-hit areas in the city, residents say Bikash Nagar near the Maulana Md Tayabullah Hockey Stadium has long suffered from poor drainage. For nearly half the year, roads there remain inundated with sludge and drain water.
Poll
Do you think the current government’s handling of urban problems in Dispur is satisfactory?
Pulin Sarma, a voter from the area, said, “It is difficult to ride bikes or even walk. The sludge makes the roads slippery, and the drain water makes living here unbearable and during the monsoon it gets worse. If we at least received some response, it would give us a sense of hope.”Access to potable water remains another major concern. Many residents still depend on borewells, wells, hand pumps or private water suppliers. Areas such as Satgaon, Panjabari, Jyotikuchi and Kahilipara are among the worst affected.Deepraj Gogoi, a resident of Kahilipara, said residents are forced to pay for water that lasts barely two days. “As the city is expanding, we still do not have a reliable source of water. I rely on bore wells, but with the rise of apartments, we are not sure how long that would last us. We do not care who comes to power, but it should be someone who focusses on the work, rather than publicity.”
