Meghalaya HC asks Govt to come up with measures to address the water crisis in Shillong

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 8, 2023

The Meghalaya High Court on Friday asked the State to come up with long-term and short-term plans to address the water supply in the Shillong city.

In its order, the division bench said, “Apart  from  the  problem  of  exorbitant  rates  charged  by  water-tankers supplying water  to  various  parts  of  the  city,  which  the  State must  immediately  regulate  and rein in,  there  have  to  be  long-term  and short-term plans put in place for the immediate future and how the State reckons the demand for water would be, say, 20 years hence.”

It said that the State would also do well to clean and rejuvenate water-bodies in and around the city, particularly the rivers and streams that may have been choked up or completely contaminated.

The district council should also be tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that local folk who live by the water-bodies act responsibly.

“There are also central projects with sufficient funds, particularly to the North Eastern States that may be availed of,” the bench said after hearing a PIL filed by KHNAM working president Thomas Passah.  

Directing the State to file a comprehensive affidavit covering all aspects indicated above, the bench said that the affidavit should also indicate the outlines of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme including whether any place in addition to Mawphlang is proposed as a site for an additional reservoir.