SHILLONG: Opposition Leader Mukul Sangma has asked the state government to formulate a planned approach instead of resorting to panic response when dealing with floods and landslides.
Of late, the state has witnessed incessant downpour resulting in large-scale floods as well as landslides.
Sangma, on Tuesday, said that the people who are affected by flood and other natural calamities must be given assistance as per the Disaster Management Act.
“There is a need to have an immediate response by all the concerned authorities to these situations”, Sangma said adding that there is a panic response from the authorities instead of planned approach.
Citing the example of the NH-127 B, which collapsed due to excessive rainfall recently, he said that roads in the state are also getting washed away due to heavy rainfall but the government is not coming up with advisories to warn people against travelling on such roads in these conditions.
Pointing out at the stretches along the Shillong-Tura and Guwahati-Shillong roads which are prone to landslides, the Opposition Leader maintained that the government should issue necessary advisories to the people. These roads lack proper slope stabilitisation in several stretches, which makes it prone to landslides, he said.
Stating that the matter of road safety is also monitored by the Supreme Court, he asked the government to identify such areas and take corrective measures.
Sangma’s statement assumes pertinence as travelling on the Guwahati-Shillong road reveals that there are several stretches near Umiam area where huge hillocks are in a risky position.
Turning to the flood-affected farmers, the Opposition Leader said that recent rainfall has caused significant damage to agricultural crops causing hardships for the farmers. The seeds sown by the farmers have been damaged in two spells of flood, he added.
He questioned whether the government has taken measures to provide respite to the farmers, while adding, “Food production is crucial for the state right now”.
Expressing concern over the flood situation in the plain-belt area of Garo Hills, he said that the government should have professionalism in dealing with the situation.
Sangma maintained that the upcoming 401-km Srirampur-Nongstoin road, which includes a massive bridge connecting Phulbari with Dhubri and whose alignment was approved during his tenure as the chief minister, would largely resolve the problem of floods in the area as the bridge consists of comprehensive flood-protection measures.
“We will have a long-term flood protection with the bridge. It will bring ample relief to the residents of both Assam and Meghalaya from the havoc of regular floods,” Sangma said.
