Assam ranks as the most climate-vulnerable state among the Indian Himalayan region. This underscores the urgent need for a climate adaptation framework that incorporates these assessments to be developed and implemented without delay. Guwahati’s terrain naturally channels rainwater towards the city’s low-lying areas. The situation is further aggravated by anthropogenic factors such as widespread encroachments and pollution of waterbodies, outdated and undersized artificial drainage systems choked with silt, plastic and debris and inadequately planned infrastructure projects such as flyovers, both during and after construction. Loss of green cover on slopes and increased construction of impervious surfaces like roads, pavements, built-ups, etc., reduce infiltration/percolation and increase run-off, leading to long time inundation and landslides at various locations. Additionally, large-scale deforestation, unregulated hill cutting and most critically, the delayed or absent implementation of flood management measures continue to worsen the crisis. Therefore, it is time for innovative sustainable solutions particularly against hydromet hazards in Guwahati.

Hydrological and meteorological (or “hydromet”) hazards are responsible for 90 per cent of total disaster losses and projected to become more severe with population growth and rapid urbanization, worldwide. Delving into Guwahati, the city has once again been struck by severe flooding in recent days, a devastating yet recurring crisis that has affected the city for years. Persistent rainfall, compounded by run-off from Meghalaya’s hills, has inundated key areas like Rukminigaon, Hatigaon, Anil Nagar, Chandmari and Jorabat. Guwahati’s already strained adaptive capacity risks further catastrophic flooding, as the city should have long ago shifted from a reactive disaster recovery and relief-focused approach to a proactive strategy centred on response and risk reduction. As global efforts towards climate resilience and sustainability intensify, Nature-based Solutions (NbS) have emerged as a crucial strategy, gaining widespread advocacy and recognition. Eco-Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR), a subset of NbS, encompasses a broad range of ecosystem-based approaches for managing natural hazards. It is important to note that a hazard is defined as “a physical event, phenomenon, or human activity with the potential to cause harm; a hazard does not necessarily result in harm.”

Given the stressful circumstances in Guwahati, a phase-wise implementation of quick-win interventions with near to long-term outcomes should be prioritized as a proactive initiative in this regard. It is important to map all the existing blue green infrastructures and conduct climate vulnerability and risk assessments to identify flood-prone areas, in the city. NbS strategies should be developed based on distinct locational characteristics upon identifying critical points and areas of risk. A city-wide sponge landscape planning should be focused consisting of sustainable urban drainage system and ecosystem-based adaptation.

To leverage the optimum co-benefits of the Eco-DRR solutions, their integration with various other developmental aspects is crucial. Eco-parks (sponge/fluvial park/biodiversity park) and gardens, waterfront development and urban waterbodies restoration, conservation and rejuvenation can not only manage floodwater but also enhance eco-tourism appeal. Further, water sensitive transportation system incorporating buffer zones, permeable pavements, bio-retention areas, bio-swales, rain gardens, temporary flood water storage measures in public areas, etc., can reduce waterlogging thereby maintaining mobility during floods. Placemaking in urban design projects transforms public and road spaces into vibrant, inclusive hubs by integrating multifunctional flood managing measures into community-centric spaces, such as revitalized urban parks, community gardens or interactive green spaces. Additionally, certified green public buildings combined with biophilic architectural integration can play a key role in managing stormwater run-off, while adaptive features can enhance stormwater resilience in the city. Most importantly, slope stabilization, extensive tree plantation, halting deforestation and environmental education and awareness are essential to retain ecosystem services and foster behavioural change and address both the root causes and symptoms of urban flooding in an integrated manner. Integrating NbS into Guwahati’s ongoing and proposed development plans across various sectors can enhance the city’s performance in localized Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) rankings and improve its overall imageability. Also, a flood control master plan is crucial for future-proofing Guwahati against increasingly severe and frequent flooding. Stakeholders’ engagement at all stages is imperative throughout the process. At the ward level, localized flood response plans should be formulated by identifying evacuation routes and shelters as well as early warning systems should be planned with real-time integration of Indian Meteorological Department data to ensure timely alerts and effective disaster preparedness. Therefore, Guwahati’s quest for climate adaptation requires a multi-faceted approach, wherein comprehensive guidelines, regulations, standards and tools are subsequently developed to integrate all aspects of the project into local governance mechanisms. #

Pratiksha Baruah, Architect-Planner, Policy specialist and Sustainability professional. She is currently a Researcher at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia and the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India - Joint Research Academy (UQIDAR, i-student).