Shillong: Meghalaya is building more than 500 water reservoirs to fight off potential drinking water shortages. Low rainfall numbers have spooked state officials. Public Health Engineering Minister Marcuise N. Marak confirmed the push on November 3.
Multiple state agencies are teaming up to save the supply. The PHE, Community and Rural Development, Forest, Soil and Water Conservation, and Agriculture departments are all involved. They focus on preserving water sources and improving retention rates.
The Asian Development Bank is bankrolling many of these projects. The state government is also paying for additional conservation works. Crews are busy digging contour trenches and planting new trees. They are restoring degraded land to catch more water. Marak pointed to the national policy of Catch the Rain, Where It Falls as a guiding principle.
The Soil and Water Conservation Department is using Japanese Miyawaki plantations across the state. These high-density forests boost green cover. Marak said, "These plantations are showing encouraging results."
The administration knows it cannot control the clouds. Officials hope these long-term projects will secure the state supply. This inter-departmental effort aims to build capacity for dry spells.
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