History

 The Urban Development Department (UDD) was established vide Govt. Notification No. AR.
17/2002/33 on the 9th of June 2002 after amalgamating the erstwhile departments of Municipal
Administration and Town & Country Planning. There are four (4) Directorates/Boards under Urban
Development Department viz. Directorate of Municipal Administration, Directorate of Town &
Country Planning, Assam Urban Water & Sewage Board and Assam State Housing Board. These
Offices look after the affairs of urban local bodies of the state other than Guwahati Municipal Corporation.
The main function of the Urban Development Department is coordination between the urban local bodies
of the state  and discahrging the statutory ressponsibilities under the provisions of the Assam Municipal
Act 1956.The other functions include administering the provisions of the Assam Town & Country
Planning Act 1958 by way of publishing the Master Plan of each and every urban area of the state.
Schemes for development of the urban local bodies are sanctioned by the Department, sponsored to
Government of India wherever necessary.
The Guwahati Development Department (GDD) was created in January 1994 as the administrative
department for Guwahati Munipal Corporation (GMC) and Guwahati Metropolitan Development
Authority (GMDA).It was created vide an Order by the Governor (No. 46/93/22) with a view to facilitate
paper and coordinated development of Guwahati urban area. The GDD would from this date onwards
coordinate all development activities within Guwahati urban areas including GMDA area.
The Governor of Assam on 20.07.2021 ordered the merger of the Guwahati Development Department and
the Urban Development Department, and henceforth renamed as “Department of Housing and Urban
Affairs”.
In a notification vide No. AR.44/2018/Pt.26/14 dated 20.07.2021, the Governor of Assam states that from
onwards, all correspondence will now be made in the name of the Department of Housing and Urban
Affairs, instead of the Guwahati Development Department or the Urban Development Department.
The department is merged as per the recommendation of the report of the Assam Administrative Reforms
Commission, 2005, so as to streamline the departments which will be cost-effective, less overlapping in
terms of functions and more citizens friendly.
 The Directorate of Municipal Administration was set up in the year 1969. The main function of the
Directorate of Municipal Administration is to guide the Urban Local Bodies in performance of their
functions smoothly, exercise control- over the Budgets of the Urban Local Bodies of Assam, act as
coordinator between the Government in Department of Housing & Urban Affairs and local bodies in
respect of their needs and problems and putting those before the Government.
The Directorate of Municipal Administration exercise its control-over 33 Municipal Boards and 47 Town
Committees in the plain Districts and 1 Municipal Board and 7 Town Committees in Bodo Autonomous
Councils of Assam. Another 12 Town Committees Viz., Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong, West Karbi
Anglong are under the Administrative control of the concerned District Councils.

Assam Municipal Development Project under World Bank

Assistance

      This is a project proposal from Urban Development Department, Government of Assam (GoA)

seeking World Bank assistance to the extent of US $150 million for urban development in the state. Like
elsewhere in India, cities and towns too have been facing the challenges of increasing urbanization. The
main objectives of the proposed Assam Municipal Development Project (AMDP) are to help improve
urban services in Assam, and the capacity of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and state level urban
institutions of Assam to help sustain and expand urban services.
     The main objectives of the ‘Assam Municipal Development Project’ are to fulfill the following visions
in the line of "Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)" and Swachh
Bharat Mission in urban area.
o Ensure that every household has access to a tap with assured supply of water and a sewerage connection

o Increase the amenity value of cities by developing greenery and well maintained open spaces (e.g. parks)
and

o Reduce pollution by switching to public transport or constructing facilities for non-motorized transport
(e.g. walking and cycling)

     All these outcomes are valued by citizens, particularly women, and indicators and standards have been
prescribed by the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) in the form of Service Level Benchmarks
(SLBs).
      An amount of Rs. 4500.00 lakhs as Central share and Rs. 500.00 lakhs as State sharewas allocated in
the Budget for implementation of Assam Municipal Development Project for the year 2015-16. But the
approval of the project from Central Govt. was not obtained. So fund was not sanctioned against this
project.

Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation

(AMRUT)

      The aim of the mission is to focus on the following services - Water supply, Sewerage, Septage, Storm
water drainage, Urban transport, Green space and parks and reforms implementation.
Target: 4 cities in Assam viz. Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Silchar and Nagaon.
     Allocation of Rs.100.00 lakhs against AMRUT was communicate by the Govt. of India for the year
2015-16. Accordingly, Rs. 100.00 lakhs has been made Budget provision in the State Budget through S.D
as Central share. However, an amount of Rs. 100.00 lakhs was sanctioned as Central share of AMRUT
and released to four cities/ULBs viz. GMC, Dibrugarh Municipal Board, Silchar Municipal Board and
Nagaon Municipal Board.

National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM)

    The aim of the scheme is to reduce poverty and vulnerability of the urban poor households by enabling
them to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities, resulting is an
appreciable improvement in their livelihoods on a sustainable basis, through building strong grassroots
level institutions of the poor. The mission would aim at providing shelter equipped with essential services
to the urban homeless in a phased manner. In addition, would also address livelihood concerns of the
urban street vendors by facilitating access to suitable spaces, institutional credit, social security and skills
to the urban street vendors for accessing emerging market opportunities.
The Components of the NULM are as follows:
o Social Mobilization & Institutional Development.
o Employment through Skill Training & Placement.
o Self Employment Programme.
o Capacity Building & Training.
o Scheme of Shelters for Urban Homeless (SUH).
o Support to Urban Street Vendors.

   An amount of Rs. 5378.00 lakhs was allocated as Central share and Rs. 597.00 lakhs as State share for
implementation of NULM for the year 2015-16. But fund was not sanctioned.

New Initiatives & Innovative Steps

 New initiatives and innovative steps taken by the Department to improve its functioning by increasing

the use of Information Technology and/or through any other reforms measures:
o An amount of Rs. 100.00 lakhs has been released to four cities viz. Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Silchar and
Nagaon @ Rs. 25.00 lakhs each under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation
(AMRUT).
o An amount of Rs. 20.00 lakhs has been released to Guwahati Municipal Corporation for construction of
833 nos. Individual Households Latrines under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban).
o EAP Project submitted to the Government for external aid for an amount of Rs. 1395.00 crores for Solid
Waste Management, Water Supply, Sewerage and Sanitation, Storm Water Drainage, Urban Transport
system.

ACTS ADMINISTERED BY GUWAHATI DEVELOPMENT

 The Guwahati Municipal Corporation Act, 1971 

 The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority Act, 1985

  The Guwahati Defacement of Public Property Act, 2006

 The Guwahati Non Biodegradable Solid Waste Management Act, 2006

 The Assam Fiscal Responsibilities and Budget Management Act, 2005

 The Assam Municipal Disclosure Act, 2007

  The Assam Nagara Raj Act, 2007

 The Guwahati Water Bodies (Prevention & Conservation) Act, 2005

 The Assam Apartment (Construction and Transfer of Ownership) Act, 2009

 The Guwahati Metropolitan Drinking Water and Sewage Board Act, 2009

The GMC is the creation of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation Act 1971. The corporation was duly
constituted in 1974 in the first meeting of the elected councillors as per provision of Sec.45 of this Act.
 The year 1955 can be stated as beginning of Town & Country Planning (T& CP) in Assam, when Assam
Government initiated Planning of a township for Palasbari in Kamrup District by creating Town &
Country Planning Cell under Public Works Department, Assam. Subsequently Government entrusted T &
CP to prepare Master Plan for Guwahati and Tinsukia which were taken up particularly with emphasis on
Planning in Urban Centre during Five year Plan periods with Central Assistance.
Later, the Assam Government created a full-fledged Directorate under Town & Country Planning
Department. The Department was entrusted with Preparation of Master Plan for Temporary Capital of
Assam at Dispur in 1972 and successfully completed the project. In collaboration with the Calcutta
Metropolitan Planning Organization, the T & CP organization took up the Preparation of Master Plan for
Water Supply, Drainage & Sewerage for Greater Guwahati in 1969 which was approved by Town &
Country Planning Advisory Council in 1972. Today, Town & Country Planning, Assam facilitates the
urban development of 88 notified towns of Assam (excluding Guwahati city).

 The GMDA was established in 1992 as per Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority Act 1985
(amended). It replaced the erstwhile Guwahati Development Authority constituted in 1962 under the Town
and Country Planning Act, 1959 (amended). In order to ensure planned development of the Metropolitan
area , GMDA has adopted the Master Plan and Zoning Regulations prepared by the Town and Country
Planning Department, Govt. of Assam, in 1992 and is now in the process of preparing a new Master Plan
and Zoning Regulations.

As per section 126 of the GMDA Act, with the constitution of this Authority, the relevant section of the
GMC Act, 1969 (Assam Act-1 of 1973) ,Assam Town and Country Planning Act, 1959 (Assam Act-I of
1960), Assam Municipal Act, 1956 (Assam Act-IV of 1957) and Assam Panchayat Act 1972 cease to
operate within the territorial limit of Guwahati Metropolitan Area.

 The Assam Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board Act 1985 has received the assent of the President of
India on the 25th day of December 1986 in exercise of the powers confirmed by sub-section of Assam is
pleased to declare that the Assam Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board Act 1985 shall be deemed to
have come into force in the whole state of Assam with effect from 11th day of May 1988.[ Notification
 no : 167/85/ Pt-III /19 dtd.03.04.1989]. This act has come into force in the whole State of Assam from the
above mentioned date.
Till date there are 58 nos. Urban Water Supply Schemes has been taken up by the Board for supply
drinking water in 50 Nos towns.

 Guwahati Metropolitan Drinking Water & Sewerage Board was established on 21st December 2011 with a
view to promote uninterrupted, hygienic, piped drinking water and encourage a hygienic environment in
the Guwahati Metropolitan Area (GMA) in accordance with the Guwahati Metropolitan Drinking Water
and Sewerage Board Act, 2009, published on 28th February 2009.

 The Assam State Housing Board (ASHB), a statutory body constituted under ASHB Act,1972 (Assam Act
I of 1974) is the main agency of implementing all types of Housing Schemes under the Administrative
Control of Urban Development Department, Govt. of Assam. Since its inception, Assam State Housing
Board has been implementing various State Govt. as well as Central Govt. sponsored schemes under
Housing Sector.

 The Government of India intends to transform 100 Indian cities into Smart Cities. Guwahati was one of
the twenty cities to be selected in the first round of smart cities challenge. In this context, Guwahati has
incorporated a special purpose vehicle (SPV) – Guwahati Smart City Limited (GSCL) to plan, design,
implement, coordinate and monitor the smart city projects in Guwahati. GSCL is a company incorporated
under Indian Companies Act 2013 with equal shareholding from Govt. of Assam.
The SPV has been established on 11th May 2016. The total authorized capital of SPV has proposed Rs.
400.00 Crore and total paid up capital of the SPV is Rs. 378.00 Crore. As per the Government of India, the
total proposed cost for Guwahati smart city is around Rs. 2296 Crore; which includes Area Based
Development (ABD) cost is approx Rs. 1579 Crore and Pan City cost is approx Rs. 622 Crore.