SHILLONG, July 20: Agriculture Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has expressed concern over the recurring water shortage faced by the people of Meghalaya, despite the state being known for receiving the highest amount of rainfall in the world.
Lyngdoh acknowledged that many communities continue to suffer from acute water scarcity, emphasising the urgent need to address the crisis.
She pointed out that water supply shortages have become widespread across the state, particularly affecting the availability of safe drinking water in rural areas.
Highlighting the importance of timely intervention, the minister stressed the need for sustainable solutions to tackle the ongoing trend of water scarcity.
She, however, appreciated the support from NABARD, which has sanctioned six projects covering 1,620 hectares, focusing on water conservation, spring rejuvenation, and livelihood generation.
“These spring-shed development projects require continuous support and intervention,” Lyngdoh noted.
She further lauded NABARD for empowering the tribal communities of Meghalaya by sanctioning 16 projects worth Rs 24.10 crore, benefiting over 5,030 tribal households.
Speaking on the agricultural growth of the state, Lyngdoh said that Meghalaya is now witnessing significant progress, especially in food processing.
“Today, many of our products are reaching markets across the country and even abroad. This would not have been possible without the support of NABARD through the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) and Food Processing Promotion Fund,” she stated.
The minister also urged NABARD to increase its focus on the food processing sector, calling it a “sunrise industry” with immense potential for growth and employment generation.
She informed that since the inception of the RIDF, a total of 1,742 projects amounting to Rs 2,532.35 crore have been sanctioned for Meghalaya.
“This has significantly strengthened our efforts to improve rural connectivity and boost agricultural productivity,” she said.
Acknowledging that the backbone of any livelihood is road infrastructure, she said that the MDA 2.0 Government will continue to work toward enhancing rural connectivity across the state.
