SHILLONG, July 25: Meghalaya Chief Minister and National People’s Party (NPP) president Conrad K. Sangma on Friday said Assam and Meghalaya would jointly work to reduce the environmental impact of development activities following concerns over flooding and landslides in Guwahati.
Responding to remarks by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who had linked unregulated construction along the inter-state border to recurring floods and landslides in Guwahati, Sangma said development was essential but must be undertaken in a responsible and sustainable manner.
He said flooding remained a serious concern and noted that several factors contributed to the problem. According to Sangma, both state governments were monitoring the situation through official channels, although no formal joint committee had been set up to address the issue.
The Meghalaya Chief Minister said he remained in regular contact with his Assam counterpart and that the two leaders had discussed the recent flood situation. He expressed confidence that both governments would identify measures to minimise the impact of such incidents.
Sangma emphasised that lasting solutions would require coordinated efforts from both states, adding that Assam and Meghalaya must work together to mitigate the environmental consequences of development while addressing recurring flood and landslide challenges in the region.
