SHILLONG, JUL 29: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday said Meghalaya cannot be held responsible for floods in Assam, arguing that the problem stems from topography and infrastructure gaps in low-lying areas.
Responding to repeated allegations, Tynsong said the state’s hilly terrain is not the cause of flooding downstream.
“You need to go and see for yourself. Floods do not happen in the hills. They happen in the lower areas,” Tynsong told reporters.
He pointed to poor drainage and planning as key reasons for waterlogging in the plains, and said rainfall patterns are impossible to predict accurately.
“When you are in a lower area, if drainage and infrastructure are not properly designed, then naturally this happens. And no one can say for certain when we will get heavy rain or less rain. It is just not possible for humans to foresee all of this,” he said.
The Deputy CM said blaming Meghalaya every time floods occur is unfair, and stressed that both states share responsibility.
“This blame on Meghalaya comes up again and again only because we are at a higher elevation and Assam is at a lower level. We can’t change geography. You cannot directly blame Meghalaya, just as Meghalaya cannot blame Assam. Ultimately, we are both responsible together,” he said.
Tynsong added that consultants hired by the state and central governments have already been told to incorporate proper drainage and culvert systems in all new projects.
“The concerned consultants, whether engaged by the state or Centre, have this component built in. Drainage has to be done properly. Culverts have to be in place. These issues have already been taken care of in the upcoming projects,” he said.
He also cited an upcoming 6-lane ring road in Assam as an example of infrastructure that will benefit both states.
“Assam will have a 6-lane ring road. That will benefit Meghalaya too. From Sonapur we will link it to Meghalaya towards Silchar as a speed corridor. From Sonapur it will connect on the Ri-Bhoi side and eventually meet near Umiam,” Tynsong said.
