SHILLONG : Mawkyrwat MLA Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar has denied allegations that work carried out on his recently purchased land was responsible for the flooding that affected several houses in Pahamlang village under 17 Mer, Ri-Bhoi, following days of heavy rain.
The MLA visited the village on Monday to meet affected families and inspect the area after residents alleged that soil dumped on his land had blocked the natural flow of water, resulting in floodwater entering at least 17 houses. Officials from the Ri-Bhoi district administration, the Public Works Department (PWD) and the village headman accompanied him during the inspection.
Residents had earlier submitted a memorandum to the district administration seeking immediate intervention, claiming the filling of land disrupted the existing drainage path and contributed to the flooding. Responding to the allegations, Tongkhar maintained that the property had only recently come under his ownership and that no construction or development activities had been undertaken there. He said people living in the locality were aware of the condition of the land and could confirm that no work had been carried out that could have caused the flooding.
“I didn’t block the drainage. Instead, I spent my own money to improve it because I wanted to reduce flooding for the people living here. Even though I had to give up part of my land, I allowed the drainage channel to pass through for the benefit of the community,” Tongkhar said.
He further informed residents that drainage improvement work, including the installation of Hume pipes, is still underway. At the same time, he urged people to stay alert as more heavy rainfall is expected, saying everyone should take necessary precautions to protect their families and property if the weather worsens again.