From Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi: Union Minister for Water Resources Pawan Kumar Bansal on Thursday took note of the recurring flood problem in Meghalaya and asked the State Government to immediately present a detailed project report at the earliest suggesting remedial measures for the Ministry’s approval.
This was informed to the Union Minister of State for Water Resources Vincent H Pala and Meghalaya’s Minister for Water Resources, AL Hek who met Bansal at his office here.
“We had a detail discussion on the perennial flood problem and the Union Minister assured all help,” Hek told The Shillong Times after the meeting.
Hek also submitted a letter to the Union Minister mentioning that flash floods in Wahumkhrah and Umshyrpi rivers each year have played havoc with the capital city of Shillong. Rapid but inevitable urbanisation, growth of population, industrialisation and other factors have made these twin rivers
polluted and erratic.
The Union Minister agreed that growing demand for water as a result of population growth, urbanisation and economic growth has resulted in tremendous pressure on water resources making India a water-stressed country by international standards.
“A DPR of about 40 crore rupees is under progress for the twin rivers in consultation with the Brahmaputra Board and the Central Water Commission,” Hek said.
“We also discussed about the current devastating floods in Garo Hills which has affected nearly a lakh people,” he added.
The State Minister wanted scientific management of water which is both scare and plenty in the hill State.
As of now about one lakh people were affected in West Garo Hills after the swollen Brahmaputra and Jingiram rivers submerged over 100 villages this week.
Hek reiterated that the Centre should provide adequate assistance and permanent solution to the flood problem in the State.
Bansal said that the Centre has launched a National Water Mission as part of PM’s Action Plan on Climate Change.
The main objective of this Mission is to achieve integrated management of water resources by conserving water, minimizing wastage and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and within various States of the country.
Given the limitations on increasing supply, a large part of any effort to close the demand supply gap must focus on increasing water use efficiency, he observed.