Shillong: Meghalaya’s Disaster Management Minister, Kyrmen Shylla, has strongly refuted allegations from Assam that deforestation and construction in Meghalaya are contributing to the recent floods in Guwahati.
Shylla urged Assam to instead focus on improving its urban drainage infrastructure.
“Assam needs to find a solution, build proper drainage to avoid further flooding,” Shylla stated, emphasizing the need for a fact-based discussion. “Until and unless that is done, there’s no point blaming Meghalaya.”
Last year, Assam’s Chief Minister reportedly blamed the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) for causing floods in Guwahati by cutting trees and levelling hills.
“Guwahati, situated on the Brahmaputra River, is inherently prone to floods. The city’s rapid expansion, which has seen marshy areas developed, coupled with a growing population and inconsistent regulation, has exacerbated its challenges,” he added.
Shylla confirmed that Meghalaya has not received any official communication from Assam regarding the issue.
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The minister reiterated that the flood situation in Guwahati is a recurring urban problem requiring better internal preparedness within Assam.
“It’s easy to blame, but such claims must be backed by proof,” Shylla said. “If surveys show that we’ve contributed, we’re open to talks and corrective steps.”
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that the state government had sought the intervention of a Supreme Court-appointed committee over ongoing hill-cutting activities in Meghalaya, which he alleges are a significant contributor to Guwahati’s worsening waterlogging crisis.
CM Sarma warned of dire consequences if unchecked deforestation and hill cutting continued along the Assam-Meghalaya border.
