Meghalaya cabinet approves draft state water policy

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 12, 2019

SHILLONG: The state Cabinet has approved the draft state water policy which seeks to protect and have better management of water resources with the active participation of the community. 

The draft policy got the cabinet’s nod after a detailed presentation and long discussion by the council of ministers and officers in the meeting chaired by chief minister Conrad K Sangma here on Friday. 

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong told reporters that Meghalaya is the first state in the country to have in place a state water policy. 

He said the policy was prepared in consultation with the stakeholders and it will be notified very soon. 

Referring to the land tenure system in the state, Tynsong said since land belongs to the people or the clan, community participation will play an important role in the implementation of the policy. 

“We will also have a Water Sanitation Village Council (WSAC) and I am sure this policy will go a long way in changing the mindset of our people and also for proper utilization of water,” he added. 

Asked, the deputy chief minister said all issues related to protection of catchment areas, underground water, addressing concern over river pollution are being outlined in the policy. 

Stating that Meghalaya, being a hill state, despite receiving huge amount of rainfall yet all the water reached Bangladesh within one hour, Tynsong said the policy therefore has also focused on the need to construct check dams. 

“Detailed research by experts will be done on how to make each check dam multi-purpose reservoir for the benefit of the people of the state,” he said.