Meghalaya Assembly worried about water woes, climate change

Shillong: The impact of climate change and the consequent water woes has become a pressing issue for members of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, particularly in rural areas. UDP MLA Synshar Kupar Roy Lyngdoh Thabah raised concerns during the Budget Session about residents in his Sohiong Constituency resorting to purchasing water due to depleting sources.

Minister in charge of Public Health Engineering (PHE), Marcuise N Marak, acknowledged the challenges posed by climate change on water preservation. Responding to Thabah’s inquiry about the steps taken to strengthen water sources for the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Marak mentioned the government’s efforts, including geo-tagging JJM sources for monitoring and necessary interventions.

Thabah questioned whether the department could achieve the JJM guideline of 55 litres per day per capita with the current spring sources. Minister Marak assured that the department is taking steps to rejuvenate water sources and meet JJM targets, aiming for completion by March 2024.

Leader of Opposition Ronnie V Lyngdoh emphasised the need to conserve catchment areas, citing the drying up of the River Umiew, crucial for Shillong’s water supply. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma clarified that Umiew is not the JJM source and announced the launch of the MegARISE program to rejuvenate the Umiew and Ganol Basin catchment areas.

MLA Olan Singh Suin queried about village-level water source conservation, to which Minister Marak reiterated the department’s challenges due to climate change. Chief Minister Sangma highlighted Meghalaya’s water policy and ongoing projects, such as mapping springs with NESAC and creating reservoirs through an ADB-assisted project.

Sangma mentioned successful spring rejuvenation projects, resulting in 9 springs providing approximately 50,000 litres of water, emphasising the state’s commitment to sustainable water supply.

Dear Reader,
Every day, our team at EastMojo travels through rain, rough roads, and remote hills to bring you stories that matter – stories from your town, your people, your Northeast.
We do this because we believe in truthful, independent journalism. No big corporate backing, no government pressure – just honest reporting by local journalists who live and breathe the same air you do.
But to keep doing this work, we need you. Your small contribution helps us pay our reporters fairly, reach places others ignore, and keep asking the tough questions.
If you believe the Northeast deserves its own fearless voice, stand with us.
Support independent journalism. Be a Member.

Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com

BE A MEMBER