Shillong: Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong has asserted that Meghalaya should not be held solely responsible for the recurring floods in Assam stating that both Meghalaya and Assam share responsibility for addressing the issue.
Responding to allegations that developmental activities in Meghalaya’s hill areas contribute to flooding in Guwahati, Tynsong said there is currently no technology that can accurately predict heavy rainfall in advance or fully anticipate the challenges posed by extreme weather events.
“Meghalaya is time and again blamed for floods just because the state is located at a higher elevation. We cannot be held responsible for the situation simply because we are on higher ground while Assam lies in the plains,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister maintained that Meghalaya alone should not be blamed for the floods, emphasizing that both neighbouring states have a role to play in mitigating the problem.
It may be mentioned that several areas in and around Guwahati, including Jorabat, Khanapara, the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport area, and other parts of the city, frequently experience waterlogging during periods of heavy rainfall.
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His remarks come amid repeated statements by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has alleged that developmental activities on Meghalaya’s hill slopes near Guwahati are a major factor contributing to flooding in the Assam capital.
Referring to Assam’s proposed six-lane ring road project near Guwahati, Tynsong said the state government must ensure that adequate drainage systems and culverts are incorporated into the project to prevent waterlogging and improve flood management.
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