Conrad orders emergency measures as El Niño threatens water, food security

SHILLONG, June 23: Facing the prospect of a rain-deficient monsoon fueled by El Niño, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has placed Meghalaya on high alert, ordering emergency measures to prevent a looming water crisis and food price hikes across the state’s 12 districts.
Chairing a high-level meeting of the Meghalaya Climate Council at Taraghar, the Chief Minister warned that the state must act now to mitigate the impact of reduced rainfall and prolonged dry spells. The directive follows forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) suggesting that El Niño conditions could significantly alter monsoon behavior, threatening the state’s rain-dependent economy.
Water security was identified as the most critical priority. With major water bodies and reservoirs—including Umiam Lake—vulnerable to plummeting levels, the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department has been ordered to move beyond planning and into active monitoring.
Contingency plans now include the deployment of water tankers to vulnerable blocks and the immediate desiltation of existing ponds and reservoirs to maximise storage.
The Chief Minister instructed departments to identify and execute practical water-harvesting measures within the next six months to ensure that urban centers and rural colonies do not go dry.
To insulate citizens from potential supply chain shocks, the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department has begun the “advance lifting” and stocking of food grains.
The government has also activated price monitoring mechanisms to track essential commodities, aiming to prevent hoarding and artificial price spikes that often accompany climate-related disruptions.
While the Agriculture Department reported that current sowing activities remain at normal levels, the Chief Minister directed the immediate distribution of short-duration crop varieties and the expansion of crop insurance.
Vulnerability mapping has been completed to identify agricultural blocks most at risk of soil moisture loss, with officials instructed to ensure seeds and solar-powered irrigation support are available before a crisis hits.
The IMD noted that while previous El Niño events have seen varying impacts in the Northeast, the current global climate trend warrants heightened caution.The state will now use social media and community networks to push real-time weather advisories to farmers and local village authorities.
Concluding the meeting, Sangma stated that the state’s readiness would be the “best defence” against climate uncertainty. He ordered all departments to move from strategic discussions to actionable timelines, focusing on safeguarding livelihoods and public welfare against the looming dry spell.