Syllabus: GS–III & V: Infrastructure

Why in the news?

Guwahati is witnessing rapid population expansion on its hills, leading to irreversible ecological damage and worsening artificial floods. Experts and policy discussions increasingly point to one root cause: acute shortage of affordable housing in the city’s plains, pushing low-income residents and migrant workers towards unauthorised hill settlements.

Understanding the housing pressure in Guwahati

• Guwahati’s service sector growth, infrastructure expansion and real estate boom have sharply increased housing demand.
• Traditional Assam-type houses are rapidly being replaced by multi-storeyed apartments, driving up rents in the plains.
• Entry-level service sector youth and construction workers often cannot afford these rents and are forced to seek low-cost housing on hills, where regulations are weak.
• Many migrant workers, particularly from lower Assam districts, end up building temporary bamboo and tin houses, accelerating hill cutting and deforestation.

Ecological consequences

• Hill cutting and vegetation loss reduce natural water absorption.
• This leads to flash floods and artificial flooding in the city’s low-lying areas.
• Once damaged, hill ecosystems are nearly impossible to restore, making prevention critical.

Affordable housing as a sustainable solution

A practical and humane solution lies in scaling up affordable housing under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban.

Key features of PMAY-Urban relevant to Guwahati:

• Central assistance released in three instalments (40%, 40%, 20%).
• Mandatory State government share, with flexibility to provide additional top-up support to improve affordability.
• Demand-driven scheme: housing targets depend on State and Urban Local Body assessments, not fixed by the Centre.

If Assam leverages this flexibility, large-scale affordable housing can be created for service sector workers, construction labourers and hill settlers.

Role of credit and finance

• The restructured Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Trust for Low Income Housing aims to improve loan access for Economically Weaker Sections and Low Income Groups.
• It provides credit guarantees for housing loans from banks and housing finance companies.
• PMAY-Urban 2.0 also encourages tripartite agreements among States, banks and beneficiaries to ensure timely home completion.

Climate, comfort and construction cost

• Rising temperatures due to climate change have increased demand for thermally comfortable houses, often raising rental costs.
• To address this, PMAY-Urban 2.0 includes the Technology and Innovation Sub-Mission, which:
  • Promotes climate-responsive housing designs for different geo-climatic zones.
  • Encourages eco-friendly, disaster-resilient and resource-efficient materials.
  • Aims to reduce energy use, environmental impact and long-term housing costs.

This is particularly relevant for Guwahati’s humid, flood-prone environment.

Institutional responsibility

• Since PMAY-Urban is demand-driven, accurate assessment of housing needs is crucial.
• The Guwahati Municipal Corporation can play a key role by:
  • Conducting realistic surveys of low-cost housing demand, especially among hill dwellers.
  • Aligning housing supply with migration patterns and employment hubs.
  • Integrating housing planning with hill conservation and flood mitigation strategies.

Key terms explained

• Affordable housing: Housing that low-income households can rent or buy without financial stress.
• Economically Weaker Section: Households with very low annual income eligible for housing support.
• Low Income Group: Income group slightly above Economically Weaker Section but still vulnerable.
• Artificial floods: Flooding caused by urban mismanagement rather than heavy rainfall alone.
• Thermal comfort: Indoor comfort related to temperature and ventilation.
• Demand-driven scheme: A programme where targets depend on actual needs assessed by States.

Conclusion

Guwahati’s hill degradation and flood crisis are urban planning failures as much as environmental ones. Without affordable, climate-resilient housing, enforcement alone cannot stop hill encroachment. A housing-first strategy, backed by PMAY-Urban, green construction technology and realistic demand assessment, offers the most sustainable path to protect Guwahati’s hills while ensuring dignified living for its growing workforce.

Exam Hook

Key Takeaways:

• Affordable housing is directly linked to urban ecology and disaster risk.
• PMAY-Urban is demand-driven, placing responsibility on States and cities.
• Green housing can address both affordability and climate resilience.

Mains Question:
“Discuss how affordable housing can act as a tool for urban ecological conservation with reference to Guwahati’s hill degradation and flood problem.”

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