SHILLONG: Meghalaya was the state in focus in the Fourth India International Water Summit, 2013 organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in partnership with Ministry of Urban Development in New Delhi recently.
The objective of the summit which was organised under the theme, “Sustainable Water Management by Creating Smarter Water Utilities”, was to raise pertinent issues and find viable solutions to the availability of water and preservation of water resources in India while also looking at the international best practices which can be adapted in the country.
During the summit, the Meghalaya Integrated Water Policy was presented by Kenneth M. Pala, Regional Coordinator, German Development Cooperation (GIZ) on behalf of the State Government and a review of the Meghalaya Water Policy was requested by the State Government within the framework of the Climate Change Adaptation in the North Eastern Region (CCA-NER), Programme of the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER).
The policy lays emphasis on an integrated water resource management with appropriate sector strategies, decentralisation and professional water management, tariff setting as well as institutional and regulatory reforms.
Speaking at the summit, Deputy Chief Minister, Rowell Lyngdoh, who also holds the portfolio of Water Resources in Meghalaya, stressed on the need to look into climate change aspects while designing water infrastructures and systems.
The 4th edition of the Summit also looked at creating smart water utilities which would also provide a roadmap for sustainable water management in India.
Eminent guest speakers spoke on issues related to water, policies and reforms in the water sector as well as exploring opportunities of involving the private sector.
