Shillong: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma put all 12 Meghalaya districts on high alert. El Niño threatens the state with a dry monsoon. Officials fear water shortages and spiking food costs. The India Meteorological Department forecasts erratic rainfall ahead. The state must move fast.
The Public Health Engineering Department is now monitoring reservoirs. Umiam Lake levels are a top concern. Crews will deploy water tankers to dry blocks. Workers are desilting ponds to capture more water. The government wants new harvesting projects finished within six months.
Food stocks are growing. The Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department is moving grains into storage now. Officials are also watching market prices to stop hoarding. Farmers will receive short-duration crop seeds and extra insurance.
The state has mapped out high-risk agricultural zones. Solar-powered irrigation is on the way. Social media will carry weather alerts to villages. Concluding the meeting, Sangma stated that the state’s readiness would be the "best defence" against climate uncertainty.
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