300 externally-aided projects under way to revive Umiew, Ganol upstream sources

SHILLONG, Jan 21: Over 300 externally aided projects (EAPs), co-funded by Germany’s KfW Development Bank and the Government of Meghalaya, are under way to rejuvenate upstream sources of the Umiew and Ganol rivers, which supply potable water to Shillong and Tura Town.
The initiative focuses on two critical areas — the Umiew catchment, which secures the water supply for Shillong, and the Ganol catchment, which ensures water availability for Tura.
“The government has taken up this project to rejuvenate all upstream sources of the Umiew and Ganol rivers. The project has already started and is being implemented by MBMA,” Public Health Engineering (PHE) Minister Marcuise N Marak stated on Tuesday.
He added that he had recently reviewed the project’s progress. “I found the project is progressing well. There are multiple components to the work, and the first two—sensitization programmes in villages — are already under way,” he said. “The groundwork has begun, and physical plantations will follow very soon,” he added.
In February 2024, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma formally unveiled the Protection of Vulnerable Catchment Areas in Meghalaya (MegARISE) and inaugurated the Sustainable Land Management Meghalaya Project (SLM). The MegARISE project, with a financial outlay of Rs 344 crore, is designed to address water security challenges and ensure sustainable water resource management in Meghalaya.
Speaking about the 749 critically drying water sources identified in the state, Marak said, “The critical water sources have been identified by the PHE Department. The detailed project reports (DPRs) are ready, and the Soil and Water Conservation department will implement the project.”
“We are about to start the work and expect positive results. The project is very promising, as highlighted in the presentations we’ve seen. Let’s hope it brings the desired outcomes,” he said.
The state government has engaged experts to study and implement measures to restore these 749 critical water sources.
In 2024, before the monsoon season, Meghalaya faced a heatwave and dry spell, leading to severe water scarcity. The Mawphlang dam, the primary reservoir supplying drinking water to Shillong, had nearly dried up. Similarly, the Umiew river, which feeds the dam, was rapidly depleting, sparking fears of an impending water crisis. However, the arrival of monsoon rains alleviated the situation.