The Meghalaya Government is monitoring water levels of as many as four rivers, Commissioner & Secretary in-charge Revenue and Disaster Management Sanjay Goyal said the deputy Commissioners are in touch with the water resources department as well as the central water commission which keeps a track of the flood levels of the rivers.
Talking to Mediapersons in Shillong, Goyal said the situation is not much alarming but the state Government is prepared. He, however, said the Jinari River in Assam is flowing above the danger level.
“We are prepared as I mentioned, we do keep a track on the flood levels or the water levels of the important rivers. The deputy Commissioners are in touch with the water resource department, as well as Centre water commission, which keeps a track on the levels of the rivers, Some of the rivers, which are in connect with the rivers in Assam are at the Danger level in the sense, the higher flood level figures are that those figures come to me,” the official said.
“Brahmaputra River, Dudhnoi, Krishnai, and Jinari as per the report of Executive Engineer Goalpara Water Resource Division and Jinari has reached the danger level,” he added.
While maintaining that there is no actual flood reported during this monsoon season, Goyal said, “There may be some inundation of water in few places because of excess rainfall.”
Two days back Chief Minister Conrad Sangma reviewed the disaster situation in the state due to the ongoing monsoon.
“Going by the past experience, it is basically the Garo Hills which does get the impact of it. The plane belt area because of the backflow of the rivers which join Brahmaputra and in certain cases the flash floods like we have observed in 2022, I believe. So these are the areas which normally are vulnerable and we are on alert,” he said.
Asked, the official said, “As I have mentioned, the day before yesterday’s meeting of the CM was focusing on this part that wherever there are vulnerable areas of the, the flood areas or the likely to be flooded areas. We should be totally prepared and if required, we evacuate the vulnerable population or the households and take them to safer places, which in most of the cases, is, is some school nearby, which is at higher elevation or maybe some Community Hall and Things like that.”
Stating that at the beginning of the monsoon, the state received more rainfall, Goyal said,
“We have had more than the normal rainfall which is roughly around 50- 60 percent above normal. But overall, I believe with these Small Patches in between wherein, we don’t have rainfall. As we have been telling earlier that it is going to be Normal or most likely above the normal.”
“ As far as the damages are concerned, We have lost two lives and the government has been very prompt in ensuring the ex-gretia relief payment to the next for the kins as per the norms. And a few damages to the house are also in the directions have been given to the deputy Commissioner to release the function within 48 Hours,” he added.