Shillong, March 11: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday informed the Assembly that steps are being taken to mitigate the impact of floods caused by heavy rainfall in the state.

He stated that the government is working on a weather forecasting system integrated with new technologies to better predict major flash floods or cloudbursts.

In his supplementary reply during the question hour, Sangma said, “Multiple steps are being taken. Wherever interventions are possible—whether through the Water Resources Department, the Soil and Water Conservation Department, or the Forest Department—various measures have been implemented in different areas. Of course, these are not completely foolproof, as weather conditions today are quite unpredictable.”

He further added, “However, significant efforts are being made. More importantly, we are developing a weather forecasting mechanism that incorporates new technologies, satellite imagery, and other advanced tools. This allows us to predict major flash floods or cloudbursts in advance, though not with absolute certainty. With advancing technologies, we are now able to issue weather warnings in most situations. So yes, steps are being taken to mitigate the overall impact of floods and heavy rainfall in Meghalaya.”

The Chief Minister also informed the House that the Disaster Response Fund stood at ₹322 crore, while the Disaster Mitigation Fund was ₹81 crore over the past five years.

“Last year alone, the government spent ₹71 crore out of the ₹322 crore DRF to assist disaster-affected areas,” he said.

Sangma also stated that funds are allocated at the district level, adding, “We have amended the rules to allow Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to provide housing materials, if necessary, for affected households. Additional funds have also been placed at their disposal. This decision was made in response to public concerns that immediate assistance for housing was required, as the sanctioning process often takes six months to a year.”

He further explained, “Apart from the General Relief (GR) funds available with DCs, we have allocated an additional ₹25 lakh. This allows DCs to provide CGI sheets to affected households without prior approval from the department or the government. This initiative has been immensely helpful, ensuring that sufficient funds are always available for DCs to take immediate and appropriate action.”

Earlier, in response to a query, Minister in-charge of Revenue & Disaster Management Kyrmen Shylla informed the House that 28 households under the Dadenggre block were affected by last year’s floods. He added that immediate relief materials were provided to the affected families.

Also Read: Start-up fund for Meghalaya’s SHGs to be hiked to Rs 25,000

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