Shillong: Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun laid the blame for chronic flooding in Jorabat on broken infrastructure. He rejected claims that Meghalaya runoff causes the mess. Bad design is the culprit.
Sohtun pointed to major engineering defects in drainage networks managed by the National Highways Authority of India and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited. Water gets trapped because the outlets fail to drain properly. It happens constantly. Blocked natural water channels and rampant garbage dumping in streams make the flooding worse, even during light rain.
The MLA warned that finger-pointing between states ignores the real danger. Rapid urban growth around Guwahati has choked natural drainage, forcing water onto the roads. Sohtun dismissed the blame aimed at his state as a distraction from structural failures. He stated, "The issue should not be reduced to finger-pointing."
Fixing the disaster requires concrete engineering changes. Sohtun insisted that the government must address the clogged channels and faulty highway drainage systems immediately. He urged stakeholders to stop scapegoating and start construction work to restore natural flow.
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