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The Chief Ministers of Meghalaya and Assam are set to hold a meeting to find a joint solution to the recurring flash floods in Jorabat,
The proposed meeting comes amid repeated concerns raised by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over the impact of development and construction activities in the Meghalaya hills on flooding in Jorabat and Guwahati.
Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said, he had already discussed the matter with the Meghalaya Chief Minister and that both states would approach the issue collectively rather than engage in a blame game.
“We are not here to blame each other but to resolve the issue,” Dhar said, expressing confidence that Assam and Meghalaya would be able to work out a practical solution to the recurring problem.
Sarma has repeatedly alleged that unregulated development and extensive earth-cutting in the Meghalaya hills have contributed to the worsening flood situation in Guwahati. He had earlier specifically pointed to earth-cutting activities around the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) campus as a major factor behind increased water runoff.
The Assam Chief Minister has also raised concerns over the growing volume of water flowing down from the Meghalaya hills during periods of intense rainfall.
According to Sarma, the increased runoff could potentially threaten critical infrastructure in Guwahati, including the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport.
The proposed meeting between the two Chief Ministers is expected to focus on identifying the causes of the recurring flooding and exploring coordinated measures to manage hill runoff, drainage and development-related concerns along the inter-state border.
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