The eviction drive in Silsako Beel, Guwahati, has thrown over 1,000 families into a state of uncertainty, leaving them homeless and struggling to rebuild their lives. While the government has justified the eviction as a necessary step to prevent artificial flooding in the city, the unfolding crisis points to a deeper, more troubling issue: systemic failures by authorities, whose decisions and inaction over the years have exacerbated the situation.

The Wetland at the Heart of the Crisis

Silsako Beel, a wetland essential for flood control in Guwahati, has suffered from years of unchecked encroachments. These illegal settlements gradually turned the wetland into a residential area, reducing its capacity to absorb water during the monsoons and leading to the city's infamous waterlogging problems. Over the years, these settlements grew with the full knowledge of government authorities, who not only turned a blind eye but in some cases, actively facilitated the encroachments.

Authorities' Role in Legalizing the Illegality

The very fact that thousands of families were able to settle in this protected wetland—with access to electricity, water, and municipal services—raises serious questions about how these encroachments were allowed in the first place. Such large-scale settlement could not have occurred without the complicity of local government bodies, including the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC). These authorities were responsible for monitoring land use and enforcing environmental regulations, yet they either ignored or enabled the gradual conversion of the wetland into a residential hub.

The provision of municipal services to these illegal settlements further underscores the deep-rooted flaws in governance. It is inconceivable that such services could be provided without official paperwork and approval, suggesting that either authorities were negligent or, more troublingly, involved in the process.

Corruption and Political Complicity

Corruption at various levels of government likely played a significant role in the expansion of these illegal settlements. Land mafias and local agents selling plots in SilsakoBeel would not have been able to operate without bribing officials or receiving political patronage. In many cases, politicians may have allowed these illegal settlements to flourish in exchange for votes, turning a blind eye to the environmental and legal consequences.

Even as the settlements grew, there was little to no enforcement of environmental regulations like the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, which were designed to protect wetlands like SilsakoBeel. The lack of action by the authorities over the years speaks volumes about their complicity and failure to uphold the law.

Human Cost of the Evictions

The eviction drive, which began in May 2022 and has since displaced over 1,000 families, is being carried out to restore SilsakoBeel's natural flood management capacity. The government has made the case that these encroachments are responsible for Guwahati's artificial floods, and that clearing the wetland is essential for the city’s long-term flood prevention strategy.

However, the human cost of this drive has been immense. Families who have lived in the area for years have had their homes demolished, with many left homeless and destitute. The lack of proper rehabilitation and compensation has only compounded their suffering. Although the government has promised compensation, only a handful of families have received it so far, leaving most in a state of limbo. Naina Begum, one of the displaced residents, voiced the frustration of many when she said, “If the government does not provide us the compensation they promised or rehabilitate us soon, we will be left with no other option but to resettle in our lands, as we have no alternate place to settle.”

For many displaced families, the slow disbursement of compensation and the absence of a clear resettlement plan have made survival difficult. These families, many of whom relied on daily wages, now face extreme hardships, unable to find stable housing or livelihood options. Despite the government's claims that the eviction drive is necessary to protect the city's infrastructure, it has failed to provide the displaced with even the most basic support.

The betrayal

The Silsako eviction also represents a betrayal of trust by politicians who were elected with the votes of the very people now being displaced. Many of the families who once lived in SilsakoBeel contributed to the election of local representatives, believing they would act in their best interests. These votes were cast as legitimate residents of the area, yet now, after being evicted, their residency is effectively invalidated, raising serious questions about political accountability.

These families, who had built lives and communities over many years, feel abandoned by the leaders they once supported. The eviction drive not only strips them of their homes but also have eroded their political voice.

Who Is Truly Responsible?

While the displaced families are being portrayed as encroachers, the real responsibility lies with the authorities who allowed these illegal settlements to flourish. The families settled in SilsakoBeel over many years, often with the knowledge and tacit approval of local authorities. Many even possess official documents that provided them access to basic utilities like water and electricity, further complicating their eviction.

The authorities who failed to prevent these encroachments—and, in some cases, actively facilitated them—must be held accountable. It is unjust to place the entire burden of these evictions on the displaced families when it was the government's inaction and negligence that allowed the encroachments to persist for so long.

A Call for Accountability and Fairness

The Silsako eviction drive highlights the broader failures of urban planning, governance, and environmental regulation in Assam. While restoring wetlands like SilsakoBeel is crucial for preventing future floods, the humanitarian crisis caused by the evictions cannot be ignored. The displaced families should not be blamed for a situation that was allowed to develop through the inaction, corruption, and neglect of government authorities.

The government must take immediate steps to provide compensation and rehabilitation to the displaced families. Additionally, there needs to be a thorough investigation into how these encroachments were allowed to happen in the first place, and those responsible within the government must be held accountable. Only then can Guwahati truly move forward, not just as a city free from floods but as a city that upholds justice and human dignity for all its residents.