Guwahati, July 24: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday voiced concern over the impact of development activities in the Jorabat hills on flood-affected Guwahati, stating that a Supreme Court-constituted empowered committee had cited in its report about activities in the area posing a “grave threat” to managing flash floods and waterlogging in the capital city.
“This matter is sub-judice and will be up for hearing in the apex court. The issue has been examined by the Supreme Court-constituted empowered committee, which has stated in its report that the development in Jorabat, particularly in USTM and the surrounding areas, pose a huge threat to Guwahati in regard to flash floods and waterlogging. Even Guwahati airport is under threat because of water coming down from the hills of Meghalaya,” Sarma informed media persons here.
The remarks came in reference to the severe flash flood and waterlogging caused in several areas of Guwahati on Thursday evening following heavy rain.
He said Meghalaya has stopped development activity in the Brynihat area because of pollution.
“Now, Meghalaya has to take a sympathetic consideration regarding the impact of activities in the Jorabat area on Assam. So, I will only appeal to the Meghalaya government to see how development in and around Jorabat can be controlled …otherwise the flood scene in Guwahati will be unmanageable, because the volume of water coming down from the hills of Meghalaya cannot be resisted by any kind of drainage here,” the chief minister said.
Sarma further flagged concerns about the construction activity on the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) campus in the area. “The activities happening on the backside of USTM is even more dangerous,” he said.
“Given the current situation, we will not be able to keep Guwahati intact because the kind of water that comes down from the hills. I am in touch with the chief minister of Meghalaya on the issue. However, since the matter will come up for hearing, we will argue before the apex court,” he said.
He further appealed to the Meghalaya government to take a “sympathetic view” of the impact of such development activity on Assam and consider regulating activity in the area.
