SHILLONG: With Mawsynram, the current wettest place on earth, facing acute water scarcity, HM Shangpliang representing the constituency hoped the area and the state in general would not be like Cape Town in South Africa.
While discussing on the problems related to water scarcity on Thursday, Shangpliang said the case of Mawsynram is like the classic saying of “water everywhere but not a drop to drink”.
According to Shangpliang, if enough measures are not adopted, the situation may turn like Cape Town, the first city in the world to dry up, unless stringent steps are taken.
“We would not like to see a situation like Cape Town,” he said. The Congress legislator said it was an irony that water problem appears to be an irritant though Meghalaya receives the highest rainfall.
The legislator said in his constituency too, water supply is deplorable.
“We need to plan out collectively so that our state is abundant with safe drinking water,” he said.
According to Shangpliang, at least Rs 20 crore worth water schemes are pending for the last several years.
He also revealed that the border residents in his constituency drink water from the pond which is also shared by the cattle.
“The same pond is used by both people and cattle. The PHE Department should do something to address this,” he said.
Women worst sufferers
Taking part in the discussion, Agatha Sangma (NPP) said women, who spend hours to fetch water, are the worst sufferers due to the shortage of water.
“The non-availability of water affects the lives of women,” she said.
A student writes examination for three hours to excel in his career, but three hours of long wait for water affects the productivity of women, Agatha said.
She also advocated the need to have rainwater harvesting in Meghalaya in line with Mizoram.
