Guwahati, July 22: In a high-impact move aimed at tackling Guwahati’s worsening urban flooding, Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah on Monday led the eviction and demolition of the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) campus at Silsakoo. The clearance is part of an ambitious 800-bigha reservoir project designed to serve as a key flood mitigation infrastructure for the city.
The IHM, a central government-run institute offering hotel management programs, occupies 15 bighas of land in the core reservoir zone. The institution is now being relocated to make way for the city’s largest planned water retention and discharge basin, which is expected to dramatically reduce flood risks once completed.
“This is a difficult yet necessary decision. While IHM has contributed significantly to education, the urgency of protecting Guwahati from devastating floods demands bold action,” said Minister Mallabaruah, who personally oversaw the demolition.
According to the Housing and Urban Affairs Department, temporary academic facilities for IHM will be arranged at the Industry Building in Christian Basti, with hostel accommodations at the Games Village. The government has already earmarked 30 bighas of land in Sonapur for the institute’s permanent relocation and has committed to full infrastructural support.
The demolition began with classroom blocks and will extend to hostels and ancillary facilities over the next 15 days. “This is the largest single institutional clearance inside the reservoir zone. We’re executing the shifting and demolition simultaneously to meet the timeline,” the minister stated.
The IHM eviction follows earlier clearance drives involving the Omeo Kumar Das Institute of Social Change and Development (OKDISCD) and the Institute of Cooperative Management (ICM). Up next in the phased eviction plan are the Ginger Hotel and the adjacent tennis court.
The Silsakoo reservoir, which will be excavated during the upcoming dry season, is a centerpiece of Guwahati’s new flood resilience strategy. Once operational, it will function as a major water holding basin, easing the burden on the city’s overstretched drainage system during monsoons.
“This is not just about demolitions — it’s about reclaiming ecological safety and building long-term resilience,” Mallabaruah said.
As part of the day’s broader urban governance drive, the minister also conducted on-site inspections of high-rise residential projects in Baghorbori, Koinadhora, Lokhora, Garchuk, Dharapur, Garigaon, and along GS Road. He reviewed compliance with building bylaws, environmental norms, and structural safety standards.
“These spot inspections are critical,” he said. “Unchecked construction near reservoirs or natural drainage channels has serious consequences. We are working to ensure that urban development in Guwahati is both lawful and sustainable.”
Senior officials from the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), and the District Administration accompanied the minister during both the eviction and the inspection drives.
More inspections are scheduled in the coming days, with oversight from senior officials, the Mayor of Guwahati, and the GMDA Chairman — part of the government’s ongoing effort to enforce transparency, accountability, and ecological balance in urban planning.
