PHE trying to address water crisis in Meghalaya, says PHE Minister

Staff Reporter

Shillong, April 21: PHE Minister Marcuise N Marak has assured that the department is going all out to solve the problem of water crisis in the state.

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He told reporters today that the problem of shortage of water supply has arisen due to breakdowns and shutdowns of lines and said, “The department is trying to solve the issues at the earliest”.

Expressing concern over the drying up of water sources due to the impact of global warming, Marak said sincere efforts are being taken by the department to retain and protect the catchment areas.

“The government has also taken steps in water conservation through ADB funds. We are trying to construct check dams and reservoirs so that we hold the water table on the ground…,” he added.

If a report is available on the number of water sources which had dried up in the state, the minister however said, “I don’t have the figure with me right now but I can give you example in Garo Hills where there are projects which are already completed by the department but because of the drying up of the catchment areas at the intake point there is no water at all at this juncture. Therefore it is not possible from the government side to give the water where the catchment areas have dried up. I would appeal to the public to bear with the government for some time and once the monsoons resume all catchment areas will be redeemed.”

Asserting the importance of rainwater harvesting, Marak said, “It is my personal opinion we should take up rainwater harvesting individually if possible. If you are constructing a house and if you can go for rainwater harvesting that will be very beneficial for that particular person. I appeal to every individual whoever is constructing the houses to go for rainwater harvesting that will be very beneficial as it will also help the government and the environment as well.”

Stories of a Shillong boy Part 1: Hill Boy and the Desert

There is a little 10 year old boy in Shillong who has a funny way of looking at things. I call him “Ray” – A named derived from his Khasi first name. I am his mother and this is one of the many stories I have about him.

Now Ray had an intense hate for two subjects in school – science and geography. I’m still drawing nonsensical circles around science, but I think I’ve cracked geography and a geography lesson is one of the most fun things we do together now. I want to talk about a lesson we did a little while ago.

In this lesson, we read about the Thar Desert. The book said something really scary to Ray. It told him that the desert is expanding because we cut down forests and let our cattle eat away all our grasslands. This really worried him. Before we could go on with the lesson, he said, “But I don’t want the desert to reach the Meghalaya.”

I looked at him and said, “It won’t.”

“But the book says that it will.” He insists. “I don’t want to live in a desert.”

I had to think for a bit. See Ray has this way of getting fixated on something and then he dwells on it – a reason why I tutor him myself by redoing every chapter that his teachers have taught in school. His head is full of questions that he would never ask in a classroom kind of space, but he would demand an answer out of me.

“It will not happen tomorrow Ray.” I said, “We’ll all be dead and gone by then. There is no need to stress.”

This did not put him at ease at all. He was worried. “I don’t want to live in India anymore if the desert is growing mei. We have to leave India.”

“There are deserts everywhere.” I said.

“This can happen all over the world?” he asked sounding completely helpless.

“Yes.” I said thinking of Mad Max Fury Road. “But it won’t happen anytime soon. It will probably happen during the time of your great great great great grandchild so you have nothing to worry about.”

This calmed him down for a little while and I was able to finish the lesson. He had his dinner after that, brushed his teeth and got into bed.

As I was tucking him in he said softly, “But I want my great great great great grand son or daughter to live also.”

And it suddenly struck me that even I want my great great great great great grandchild to live.

(This piece has been written by Dalariti Nongpiur with illustrations by Hazel Kharkongor)