SHILLONG: Rejecting attempts to hold Meghalaya solely responsible for chronic waterlogging at Jorabat, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong has asserted that the recurring crisis is due to inadequate drainage networks in the low-lying border areas—an issue that demands coordinated action from both Meghalaya and Assam, not unilateral finger-pointing.
Tynsong’s remarks follow statements by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who blamed developmental activities on the Meghalaya side for Jorabat’s flash floods.
Defending Meghalaya’s position, Tynsong emphasized that the problem cannot be viewed through the narrow perspective of a single state.
He explained that the root cause lies in the lower elevations, where key drainage and water management infrastructure are lacking. As a result, he argued, neither state can cast sole blame when structural deficits at the lower reaches affect both jurisdictions.
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Looking ahead to long-term solutions, Tynsong highlighted the upcoming ₹8,500-crore, 66-kilometer four-lane Greenfield highway connecting Jorabat and Umiam, recently announced by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Tynsong assured that comprehensive flood-mitigation measures—including modernized drainage channels and scientifically designed culverts—are integral parts of the new highway’s engineering to permanently address waterlogging along this stretch.
Beyond flood mitigation, the Greenfield corridor is expected to transform regional transit across the Northeast.
Tynsong noted that, together with Assam’s proposed six-lane ring road, the project will significantly boost interstate mobility.
Under the regional connectivity roadmap, the highway from Sonapur to Silchar will be upgraded into a high-speed transit artery, directly linking the Ri Bhoi commercial corridor with Umiam and unlocking seamless trade routes for the entire region.
(4FrontMedia news)
