Facing water shortage,world’s wettest place seeks Centre’s help

central assistance to start a comprehensive study and put in place a scientific mechanism to make water available during the lean period.

Though Sohra receives 12,000 mm of rain annually,it struggles for portable water between December and May every year.

While there were reports that the state Government had started a study in collaboration with institutions like Tata Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) and Israel-based Centre for International Agricultural Development Cooperation (CIADC),there’s no talk of it at present.

“We have asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to provide us the wherewithal to conduct a study to solve water crisis in Sohra,” said Meghalaya Tourism Minister Conrad K Sangma.

Sangma assured that the state Government will follow up on its effort to get central assistance and also involve other expert groups to quench Sohra’s thirst.

He said assistance from TERI and the Israel-based CIADC would be desirable. “Israel is known for its rain water harvesting and Meghalaya will immensely benefit if it gets their assistance.”

It’s also being said that the Planning Commission had assured Meghalaya of providing Rs 25 crore for preserving and restoring the ecosystem in Sohra but Sangma said he wasn’t aware of any such commitment. He said: “I will make enquiries from my officers and if there has been a commitment from the Planning Commission,I would follow it up with them.”

Sangma said the local community,too,has to play a role in ensuring that the ecosystem was not destroyed. “The scarcity of portable drinking water in Sohra is a result of reckless destruction of trees and the presence of limestone in the soil.” He felt that harvesting rain water for use during non-rainy season was a necessity but preserving the ecosystem was even more important.