Guwahati: Housing and urban affairs minister Kaushik Rai inspected drainage systems at several artificial flood-prone localities across the city, and inspected the ongoing Silsako restoration and flood management works and other drainage projects on Sunday.He said one of Guwahati’s most significant anti-waterlogging initiatives, the revival of Silsako Beel, is nearing completion and is expected to be ready by the next season.The restoration project assumed importance after a large-scale eviction exercise was conducted in the wetland area to revive its natural capacity to retain and channel excess water, over the last three years.Rai said govt was closely monitoring the progress of the work to ensure that the project was executed effectively and completed within the stipulated time frame.He recently held a review meeting with officials of Guwahati Municipal Corporation and Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority.He added that rejuvenating Silsako Beel remained a key component of efforts to strengthen Guwahati’s drainage network and minimise instances of artificial flooding.However, Rai said resolving the city’s waterlogging problems would require long-term and sustained intervention. He added that govt remained committed to gradually freeing Guwahati from recurrent floods through coordinated planning, infrastructure development and regular monitoring.The minister on Friday inspected the Bahini River, drainage facilities and vulnerable areas such as Juripar, Six Mile and Borbari, where officials apprised him of the status of ongoing works and preparations ahead of the rainy season. Bahini is one of the five river channels in the city that takes the load of storm water from the entire city during the monsoon.Emphasising the need for proper upkeep of drainage channels, the minister added that clogged drains and inadequate maintenance continued to aggravate waterlogging during heavy showers. He underlined the importance of regular cleaning and effective waste disposal to ensure uninterrupted flow of water.He pointed at the storm water flowing from Meghalaya to Guwahati during the monsoon as a persistent challenge. He said that while immediate efforts were focused on improving existing drainage systems, the govt would also examine long-term measures to tackle the issue of upstream runoff.He appealed to the people to contribute towards keeping drains and public areas free from waste.