Meghalaya will likely suffer great financial loss due to the severe spell of bad weather that the state has had to bear over the past few days, which has also cost several lives.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Kyrmen Shylla admitted to this today, with crops ruined, houses and roads damaged and bridges swept away by floods.
Ri-Bhoi and East Khasi Hills have been the worst-affected districts in Meghalaya so far, he informed.
Shylla also said that the state government will work to speed up the process of compensation and that ex-gratia payments for the lives lost will be given according to the norms.
Today, cracks were seen in sections of the Mawlai Bypass, which was only completed three years ago.
Asked if faulty construction work is to be blamed for some of the damage to infrastructure, Shylla said that he cannot afix blame but, if there have been instances of carelessness or shoddy workmanship by a contractor, then the government has to take action.
The minister also said that there is a real need for the permanent presence of the National Disaster Response Force in Meghalaya as the state is prone to natural calamities.
