Shillong: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a 150 crore project on Wednesday to stop flash floods in Jorabat. The money comes from the Guwahati Ring Road budget. It marks a shift from temporary relief to long-term engineering fixes. The area serves as a vital gateway for the Northeast. It connects Meghalaya to the rest of the region.
Rain frequently shuts down National Highway 6. This traps commuters and blocks supply chains. Sarma told the Assam Legislative Assembly that consultants are drafting technical plans. IIT Guwahati must vet these designs before any construction begins. The project aims to handle the heavy runoff coming down from the Meghalaya hills. Both states currently blame each other for the drainage failures caused by hill-cutting and urban sprawl.
Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar praised the move. He noted that "the two neighbouring states must work together to find a lasting solution" for this shared problem. Regional authorities have relied on pumps and silt removal for years. These tactics fail every monsoon.
Sarma also plans to widen the Digaru-Narangi road into a four-lane highway. This serves as a secondary route for traffic heading toward Guwahati from Jagiroad. He asked local legislators from Dimoria and Dispur to help push land acquisition forward. The state wants to move fast. Officials have yet to disclose if the budget covers new culverts, retention ponds, or improved channelization. The National Highways Authority of India maintains the core flooded zone, but the fix requires total coordination between state and federal agencies.
Comments