Shillong and Tura are facing a severe water crisis
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 1: The ongoing heatwave, an effect of climate change, has started to reach alarming proportions in Meghalaya with Shillong and Tura facing scarcity of water for the last few weeks.
The situation may get worse if it does not rain soon, officials said.
On Wednesday, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and Chief Secretary DP Wahlang convened a meeting of the line departments to take stock of the water crisis in the two major urban centres in the state.
PHE Minister Marcuise N Marak expressed concern over the falling depth of water in all sources in Shillong and Tura, leading to water scarcity in many localities.
“We cannot do anything as this is related to global warming and climate change issues,” he said, adding that the volume of water in Tura has gone down by 20%.
“It is scary to think what will happen in a month if there is no rain. We will face a serious crisis,” he said. He insisted that the government is trying to find ways of mitigating the situation and the departments concerned have been told to be prepared for the worst.
The minister said even the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme-III, if completed, would not have been able to resolve the crisis during such a dry spell.
He, however, said the government is taking up projects worth Rs 350 crore to rejuvenate the catchment areas of the Umiew and Ganol rivers, which provide water to Shillong and Tura respectively.
