Meghalaya: Mawsynram MLA blames region’s terrain for inability to conserve water

Meghalaya receives 63 billion cubic litres of water annually through rainfall but is able to retain only 1 billion cubic litres of water.

Mawsynram MLA Olan Singh Suin blamed the terrain of the region for the inability to retain rainwater and the lack of availability of water for people in the state despite Mawsynram being one of the wettest places on earth.

Speaking to Northeast Live, Suin said, “In lean period we do not even have water to drink, the reason is because of the terrain of some villages. Because of the high hills the water does not accumulate there, the streams sometimes dry up during the spring season unlike the situation in plain areas. As a responsible person I am working on plans to conserve the water.”

Speaking on the steps taken to conserve rainwater, he added, “Water harvesting or water harvesting structures are not only planned by the district administration, it is implemented by different departments concerned, be it soil department or agriculture department. For a long time we have been working on projects such as national rainfed, watershed for wasteland, among others and different departments are implementing these projects. These mini-micro climate change projects will contribute to the change of the climate.”

The MLA said that in the last year, less rainfall was received not only in Mawsynram but in the whole state but expects to receive a good amount this year.

He further added that he hopes Mawsynram will retain the title of the wettest place on earth, “The topography of the region, the forests have not changed, so I hope we will retain this tag,” he said.
It may be mentioned that Meghalaya receives 63 billion cubic litres of water annually through rainfall but is able to retain only 1 billion cubic litres of water.

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