Need for proper measures to protect water resources: Rowell

SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister in charge Water Resources, Rowell Lyngdoh has emphasized on the need to take proper measures to conserve water and protect the existing water sources in the region.
Addressing a gathering during the international conference on Water Resources at the Eastern Himalayan Region organised by St. Anthony’s College in collaboration with Meghalaya Water Resources Development Agency on November 4 and 5, Lyngdoh lauded the initiative and hoped that the conference will lead to the proposal of work plans which could be implemented for sustainable development of water resources in the Northeast.
The conference was jointly sponsored by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR-NERC) and the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA).
Deputy Director ICSSR-NERC, Dr. C. J. Thomas referring to the Second UN World Water Development Report (UNESCO, 2006) reiterated the importance of water as “an essential life-sustaining element” without which the earth can exist only as a dead planet like others in the solar system.
Dr. Jagdish Krishnaswamy, Convener, ATREE Bangalore stressed on the role of intact and species rich forests in maintaining ecosystem processes of streams, rivers and estuaries.  He said that this is the key to ensuring the presence of high quality and large quantity of safe drinking water for the people of the region.
The dignitaries in the conference also included Dr. Amartya K. Saha and Dr. Sonali Saha Scientists from Florida, USA and Dominic Jala, Archbishop of Shillong.
The conference was attended by a number of experts and a total of 200 participants from different institutions and organizations in the country.