Pulse of the Polls: Eviction fears, floods, water scarcity haunt Dispur

Guwahati, Feb 12: It is election season in Assam, and like the rest of the state, Kamrup (Metropolitan) is abuzz with political activity. Across its five Assembly constituencies, posters are going up overnight, microphones are crackling with campaign speeches, and political leaders are on their toes.

In Dispur, the epicentre of the state’s political power, however, this election feels different. The map itself has changed. Boundaries have shifted, and new localities have been stitched together. For many residents, the question is no longer who will win, but who listened.

Roads start, but never seem to finish - a footpath under construction

As the Assembly election approaches, Dispur reflects Guwahati’s sharp contrasts. Flyovers rise in one corner, while the fear of eviction grips another. Water pipelines reach some households, while others wade through floodwaters every monsoon. As part of its constituency watch series, Pulse of the Polls, The Assam Tribune walked through Dispur to hear what residents have to say.

When a home feels temporary

In Panjabari’s Botaghuli, houses cling to hillsides, but certainty does not. Here, land is not just property but anxiety. Years after eviction drives and court cases, families still live as if tomorrow could erase yesterday.

Narendra Nath Sharma, a senior citizen, spoke without anger, but fatigue. “We live on the edge of Guwahati, literally and administratively. Schemes have come, yes. But land remains unresolved. The Forest Department blocks construction, repairs, everything. All we ask is legal possession of the land we already live on,” he says.

For many residing in these hills, eviction is not a past event but a looming possibility. DijenDeka explained the unease. “We hear talks between the Forest and Revenue departments, but no decision reaches us. Ordinary people live here. If evictions happen again, where will they go?” he says.

Campaigns grow louder, answers remain silent 

Deveshwar Kakoti recalled the 2017 eviction tied to a boundary dispute with Amchang forest. “The case is still in court. If our names were included in land records, fear would leave our lives.” Five years on, the court files remain thicker than solutions.

Broken promises on roads

Move downhill and the problem changes shape. Here, roads decide mobility, dignity, and sometimes safety. Arman Ali, a resident of the Baghorbari, gestures toward a battered stretch of earth.

“Rickshaws refuse to come here. Walking is difficult. There are no lights, no drainage. During rain, it feels risky just stepping outside,” he says.

Another resident of Paanirtol, Romen Das said, “Schemes look good on paper, but roads and drainage define daily life. Only those already connected get benefits. The rest wait.”

In Dispur, connectivity is not about the internet but about whether a road exists at all.

The perenial artificial floods

Hatigaon tells Guwahati’s most familiar story of water in place of roads. A.R. Khan, whose house lies near the main road, described monsoons as an annual siege. “Water entered our house seven times last year. Contractors dig, leave and never finish. Patching roads only pushes water into homes,” he says.

Promises echo, where drains don't flow

For Runu Bora, patience has run out. “Every year the water rises higher. No one visits, neither the MLA, nor the councillor. This time, our vote depends on action, not words,” Bora adds.

In a city that calls itself modern, residents still stack bricks to keep water out.

The MLA’s view

Incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Atul Bora sees the picture differently. “I am working continuously. Schemes have reached people. Artificial flooding is not only the government’s responsibility but citizens also block natural drainage by occupying land. How much can the government alone do?” he argues.

In short, Dispur’s story is not one of absolute failure or total success. It is a story of half-finished roads, partial relief, and unresolved fears. 

Homes stand steady, certainty doesn't

Some households have benefited, many still wait. As candidates return with folded hands and fresh slogans, residents are measuring five years not in speeches but in repeated grievances.