The Environmental Problems Of Guwahati Environmental Sciences Essay

Guwahati, the largest city of Northeastern region of India with an area of 216 sq.km, It is the fifth fastest growing city of India in terms of urbanization.

Guwahati being the only city of North eastern region, the city witnessed many changes like rapid increase of population, depletion of forest cover, spread of diseases which resulted many environmental problems akin to land, air, water and society. Most of the changes have taken place due to the effect of changing natural environment, tremendous growth of population particularly after shifting of the capital from Shillong to Dispur, hill slope destabilization due to construction of roads, dwelling houses, public institutions and also for encroachment in wetlands and low lying areas. As the city of Guwahati is bounded on three sides by hills and the other side by the mighty river Brahmaputra, the horizontal expansion is restricted for which many multistoried buildings have come up in recent years just to accommodate ever increasing population (1991- 2001 decadal growth rate is 38.6%) . On the other hand, required infrastructure and city amenities necessary for city dwellers and city users have not developed accordingly. As a result many problems arisen in the city, such as traffic congestion, water logging, dusty atmosphere, water borne and airborne diseases etc.

In this study an attempt has been given to highlight the environmental problems arisen in Guwahati, their causes and consequences.

Introduction

The city of Guwahati is said to be the legendary Pragjyotispur, the city of eastern light. Guwahati is said to be the gateway of Northeast India. The city is situated between 260 10’25” north latitude and 910 45’0″ east longitude. The southern, eastern and a part of western sides of Guwahati are surrounded by hills and hillocks. The mighty river Brahmaputra in the north is flowing in north-east to south-west direction. Other important rivers in and around Guwahati are Bharalu, Mora-bharalu, Basistha-bahini etc. The city is dotted with swamps, marshes and water bodies like Dipor beel, Dighali pukhuri, Silsaku bill etc. The city falls under humid, subtropical region characterized by warm humid climate with heavy rainfall (average rainfall 1600mm) and a relatively cool winter with rather scanty rainfall. The maximum and minimum temperature recorded in the city is 38 degree and 16 degree respectively with relative humidity of more than 76.6%. As the city is the commercial nerve centre of the Northeast has developed road (National Highway No31, No37 and No 40), rail and air connectivity with rest of the country.

Main problems identified in the city are different types of pollution caused due to man induced activities, increase of population, water logging, soil erosion etc.

Aims

This study aims at creating such an environment in Guwahati that the city could be made livable and lovable one. With this aim the objective this study has been designed

Objectives

To analyze the geo-ecological setup of Guwahati.

To highlight the environmental problems associated with planning process of the city.

To examine the cause and effect of various problems, and

To throw light on the remedial measures to be taken to minimize the miseries of the city dwellers and city users.

Methodology

Here, in the study both primary and secondary sources of data have been used. Primary data were collected by spot visit and direct observation of the phenomena. On the other hand secondary data have been collected from various published works such as books, journals research articles, reports etc. Topographical maps (No 78N/12 & 16) and satellite imageries (SPOT MLA P-238, R-298 Dated 18/10/1990 and Landsat TM P-137, R -042 Dated 10/06/1988) have been used to examine the nature of the city growth, understand the environmental issues and to find out solutions for minimizing the miseries of the city dwellers.

Collected data have been summarized, analyzed and presented in various forms like graphs, tables, maps etc. for easy understanding of the content of the paper.

Data Analysis and Findings

1. Locational peculiarity of the city invites many environmental problems. Back in time the city was known as Pragjyotishpur, which finds mention in Mahabharata, Ramayana, Raghuvansha of Kalidas. Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang visited the city in 640 AD and described in details about the customs and manners of the people of Guwahati. Located on strategic point the city has always been a bone of contention between rival political powers. A number of bloody wars were fought between Ahom and Mughal rulers for Guwahati’s possession.

Deforestation

Increase in surface run off

HILLS

Hill slope destabilization

Soil erosion

Land slide/ land slip

Rock fall

Hill land

Siltation in low lying

areas and storm water

encroachment

drains

PLAINS

Decrease in water

Wetland

retention capacity

Inundation of new areas

encroachment

Hampers free flow of

water

Degeneration of water

WETLANDS

bodies

Dwindling Flora & Fauna

Fig. 1 : Schematic Diagram showing impact of human activities on the environmental problems of Guwahati

With the weakening of Ahom power in Assam, the city passed into the hands of British in 1826. During the British days political pre-eminence of Guwahati shifted to Shillong, which they chose as State Capital. In 1971 with the reorganization of Assam State and shifting of capital to Guwahati (Dispur) it again recovered its political pre-eminence in north east region [1]. Since then Guwahati has made a rapid progress as far as demographic, commercial and industrial activities are concerned. All these activities are responsible for many environmental problems in the city (Fig.1). .

2. Geographical and geological setups are responsible to a great extent for the problems like water-logging, landslide etc. in the city. The general shape of the city is just like a bowl surrounded by hills and hillocks in three sides and river side roads on the remaining side. The altitude in the plain areas of the city varies from 49.5m to 55.5m. . There are a number of small hillocks in the city of which Sarania (193m), Nabagraha (217m), Nilachal (193m), and Chunsali (293m) are important. The hills are composed of Granite, Quartzite, Hornblende-Biotic-Schist, Pegmatite and Quartz. On the other hand the plain areas of the city covered by

old and new alluvium. Most part of the city composed of light yellowish to red soil. When the soils completely water saturated during the monsoon months accelerate the rate of landslide hazards. The granitic rocks on the hills gradually exposed due to hill soil erosion. Quite often rock fall occur during the end part of the monsoon months and take precious human lives and damage property. Since August 1987 to August 2005 as many as 22 cases of landslide and rock fall cases recorded in different locations of Guwahati.

3. Climatic condition particularly rainfall concentration in monsoon months from June to September cause many inconvenience like water-logging, dusty atmosphere, spread of water borne and airborne dieses . Usually June rainfall is always alarming but the downpour absorbed by soil. At this stage landslide, rock fall and water logging etc. do not arise. But from July onwards in each heavy shower cause water logging in the areas like Narengi, Satgaon, Saimail, Khanapara, Noonmati, Bamunimaidam, Chandmari, Silpukhuri, Guwahati Club, Uzanbazar, Panbazar, Fancy Bazar, Paltan Bazar, Athgaon, Bharalumukh, Maligaon, Adabari, Jalukbari, G.S. Road, Zoo Road Tinali, Rajgarj Road, Bhangagarh, Dispur. When hill soils become saturated landslide and rock fall occur. Again, immediately after water logging, road surface become muddy and roadside drains clogged with silt derived from the hills. Soon after, dry mud on the roads create dusty atmosphere and increase air pollution. Moreover, storm water cause mixing of drain water and septic tank effluents with drinking water sources aggravate the health hazards in the city.

4. Almost all the problems of the city related to the population growth. The decadal growth of population in Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) clearly indicates how population may create problems in the city (Table- 1) The urban sprawl map since 1911 also indicate how city has been expanded (Fig-4). This has drastically changed the land use pattern in the city (Table-2).More particularly slums and squatters have increased manifold in last few years. As a result many inconvenience and problems have arisen in the city.

5. Defective planning and lacuna in executing the development schemes aggravate the problems in the city. In this regard, inadequate road space, lack of parking facility, undersized roadside drains, haphazardly laid utility wires and pipes are worth mentioning. Almost all the important roads, viz. GNB Road, GS Road, MG Road and most of the traffic point face acute traffic congestion. Up to 1975 the number of motorized vehicles in the city was only 27,000 which has increased to 1,29,856 in the year 1990. After that the rate of increase accelerated and by 2003 it records 3,13,387. As such around one lakh motor vehicle added to the roads of Guwahati every year [2]. On the other hand the city area has increased by only 46 sq km in last twenty years. Most of the streets in the city are only 4.8m wide. There are many lanes, which have only 3.6m or even 3.0m width. Theses should be at least 8.0m for light and medium vehicles and at least 9.0m for heavy vehicles [3]. The results of the vehicular emission show the violation in emission limit by 53 percent and 81 percent in case of petrol and diesel vehicles respectively [4 & 5]. It clearly indicates the magnitude of pollution level in the city.

6. Lack of awareness and tendency of violating the norms and rules in constructing houses, disposing household wastes and abiding traffic rules cause many problems in the city.

7. Slackness in enforcing laws also responsible for the problems of traffic congestion, waste disposal, hill slope destabilization, wetland encroachment and various types of pollution in the city.

Table- 1: Population Growth in Guwahati (from 1971 to 2001)

Year Population

1971

2,93,219

1981

4,51,200

1991

6,93,660

2001

10,67,400

1200000

1000000

800000

600000

Population

400000

200000

1971

1981

1991

2001

Fig. 3:

Population Growth in Guwahati (from 1971 to 2001)

Land Use Category

1990

2001

Residential

8904

(71.04%)

6600

Commercial

202

(1.62%)

660

Industrial

516

(4.14%)

1375

Public & Semi Public

1504

(12.08%)

2475

Transport &

1053

(8.47%)

3399

Communication

Parks & Recreation

14

(0.11%)

1450

Special Use/Others

257

(2.06%)

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Table- 2: Area under Various Land Uses 1990 to 2001