1 week Ago By Sentinel Digital Desk
Staff reporter On the teeming streets of Guwahati, a disturbing sight repeats itself with unsettling regularity black plastic bags bursting at their seams lie abandoned on street corners, surrounded by swarms of flies. Stray dogs and cows rummage through heaps of rotting waste, scattering remnants of household across footpaths and roadsides. For many residents of Assam’s capital, this daily scene is not an aberration but a routine, grim reminder of the city’s faltering waste management system.
At the heart of this issue lies the much-publicized Door-to-Door Garbage Collection initiative, launched by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) last year amid great enthusiasm and promises of transformation. Introduced as a flagship cleanliness drive, the project was designed to bring about a smart, technology-driven overhaul of Guwahati’s waste disposal system. With the support of digital infrastructure—geo-mapping of households, unique house identification plates, and a centralized monitoring system—the campaign promised efficiency, inclusivity, and regular waste pickups at the doorstep.
But a year since its inception, the reality on the ground is far from ideal. In key residential areas like Ganeshguri, Hatigaon, and Beltola, the promises have largely given way to frustration and complaints. Residents point to erratic services and uneven implementation of the scheme.
Narayan Das, a resident of Beltola, voices the concerns of many. He said, “The street vendors near our lane leave their waste on the roadsides. GMC vehicles come only to pick up garbage if it’s packed neatly.
Everything else is left to rot and stink.” His experience is echoed across neighbourhoods. A resident of Hatigaon, who wished to remain anonymous, adds, “We have to call the helpline multiple times before anyone comes.
And even then, they leave behind half the garbage. What’s the use of a digital system if it doesn’t work when you need it most?” The situation is particularly precarious for those living in rented accommodations. Gitashree Saikia, a tenant in Ajanta Path, shared her ordeal, “Unless we pay extra money, the collection vehicles refuse to pick up our garbage.
They say we’re not on their list. But our landlord’s name is registered, so why this discrimination?” The GMC had partnered with GeoVista Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
to map every household and assign a unique ID, allowing garbage trucks to follow a real-time route and ensure no home was missed. The initiative also involved tracking mechanisms to ensure accountability. An official from GMC, on condition of anonymity, admitted that operational hurdles are significant.
“Yes, we are aware there’s a serious gap. Currently, there are only about 240 to 250 garbage collection vehicles in operation, all managed by NGOs we’ve partnered with. That number isn’t enough to serve the entire city,” the official stated.
Further complicating matters is a mismatch between citizen behaviour and operational schedules. “Vehicles begin collection by 8 am, but many residents leave for work by 7. Instead of coordinating collection, they dump garbage at unauthorized places, which creates fresh problems,” the official said.
Amid growing public dissatisfaction, the GMC claims that change is on the horizon. A new tender has reportedly been floated to induct over 200 additional garbage vehicles, with a budget allocation of Rs 30 crore for expanding coverage and enhancing monitoring. “We understand the criticism,” said the official.
“But we’re in the process of strengthening the fleet and streamlining communication between the NGOs, households, and our control room. We expect improvements to start showing within the next few months.” Still, for a city that has long struggled with waste management, such assurances are not new and residents are understandably skeptical.
, one of Northeast India’s fastest-growing urban centres, is witnessing a population boom that’s straining its already stressed civic infrastructure. The need for a robust, inclusive, and sustainable waste management system has never been more critical. Yet, despite the digital bells and whistles, the core purpose of the door-to-door initiative timely, universal, and dignified waste collection remains unfulfilled.
Also Read: Also Watch:.
