Guwahati, Aug. 7 -- Guwahati sits on the banks of one of India's mightiest rivers. Yet, for most residents, the only reliable source of water lies underground, which is now gradually drying up. TheCentral Groundwater Boardhas officially classified major parts of the city as"semi-critical"as extraction rates continue to exceed safe limits across wards [1]. Assam's total extractable groundwater has declined from 2,800 billion cubic meters in 2013 to 2,000 billion by 2023, indicative of a loss of nearly800 crore cubic metersin a decade [2]. Guwahati remains one of the hardest-hit areas, with deep borewells frequently running dry in residential zones such as Six Mile, Jyotikuchi, Survey, and Panjabari, among others.

The city faces not just a...