Meghalaya and Assam have jointly decided to entrust the North Eastern Space Application Centre (NESAC) to provide support to enable both states to address flooding.
The decision was arrived at during a meeting between Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma today.
Sangma said NESAC will be tasked with conducting a comprehensive study by generating satellite imaging of forest areas, water flow, and areas prone to waterlogging. He said a report is expected within three months.
“Once this entire detailed study is done in the next few months, we will then approach agencies like the IIT Roorkee to further, then break that analysis into actual steps that we could take to find a solution that would be able to implement for both the states and be beneficial for both the states,” Sangma said.
He said both the states can work together to find solutions to the Guwahati flood as well as address the concerns of the people in Meghalaya whose economic and livelihood activities are affected by flooding.
Meghalaya delegation included Tourism Minister Paul Lyngdoh, Chief Secretary Donald P Wahlang and other officials. The Assam counterpart consisted of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, cabinet ministers and officials.
It may be mentioned that Assam had approached an empowered committee of the Supreme Court to inspect the hills of Meghalaya, blaming cutting of hills for recurring waterlogging in Guwahati.
