Assembly Committee on Environment raises concerns over drying up of critical water sources in Meghalaya
SHILLONG, July 20: The Assembly Committee on Environment has raised concerns over the deteriorating condition of water bodies in Meghalaya, pointing to rampant deforestation and unchecked industrial discharge as key contributors to the crisis.
United Democratic Party (UDP) legislator and committee member Mayralborn Syiem, speaking on behalf of the panel, stressed that the drying up of critical water sources in the state is linked to indiscriminate tree cutting and deforestation. He added that the situation is further aggravated by contamination from certain factories and industrial units, particularly in areas like Jaintia Hills.
He clarified that while he is not the Environment Minister, the committee has taken active steps to understand the ground reality. Members of the panel have conducted field visits, including inspections of industrial zones, to gather firsthand information about the environmental damage being caused. Syiem acknowledged that the pollution of rivers and streams is a serious issue, one that cannot be ignored.
The committee, he said, has made several recommendations to the government and will continue to do so, urging immediate attention to water conservation and pollution control.
He expressed hope that these suggestions would be taken up in due course and implemented effectively to protect the state’s rivers and freshwater ecosystems.
According to him, the effort is not just about acknowledging the problem but ensuring that concrete, long-term solutions are pursued to keep Meghalaya’s water sources clean and sustainable for future generations.