![]() So unless there is an effective mechanism to regulate ground water extraction by a state agency like the Water Resources Department or so, not much is being debated on the after effects of rampant drilling of ground water by private entities.Īlmost all of the natural occurring water resources in the state in the form of springs, streams, rivers etc. The Central Ground Water Authority which monitors ground water development in the country with its branch located in Shillong has not much to say when it comes to regulation of ground water extraction in the state as water is a state subject. The conventional practice here is to hire the agency that offers deep tube well drilling services and with a no objection from the administration, the drilling could start with no scientific calculations made for the future ramification that comes with the digging. Who then is responsible for the risk factors that follow when consuming untreated water? When even bore well water is not free from impurities and such water also requires tests by suitable agencies to certify that the water is safe to drink, then how can the Mawphlang water be completely safe? None can disagree, that there aren’t serious health issues that follow when consuming contaminated drinking water. Are the tests results true or is the department’s claim accurate? In litmus test the laboratory’s claim is taken into consideration since they are authorized to make such a report card. This has created confusion among people about who or what to believe. There were lab findings verified by agencies that the water is not fit for drinking, which was later clarified by the PHE through widespread publicity that the water they supply is completely safe. ![]() Fill a bucket and leave it for hours and a reddish brown stain with silt deposit at the bottom appears which is unsafe for human consumption. As many would agree, the water we drink from Mawphlang reservoir is either muddy or contaminated. One fails to understand the policies adopted by the State towards safe drinking water. Their wells remain almost dry during the off-monsoon months. Those who manage to have bore wells in their premises, are somewhat blessed if their well is placed in a suitable confined aquifer, while those whose wells are within 180 ft deep usually receive water only during the rainy seasons. They make huge sums during the winters and one has to book in advance to get 1500 liters filled to their storage tanks. The irony is that drinking water has now become a lucrative business for those who supply it through mobile tankers, the cost for which ranges from Rs 350 – 500 per tanker depending upon the distance from the source of water to the delivery point. However, the entire project could not meet people’s expectations as some areas of Shillong did receive adequate supply while others faced the brunt of inadequate supply or no water at all. When the PHE introduced the loop system for water supply during the 90’s, the objective was to effectively distribute water as per the consumption needs of a particular household. The anticipated GSWSS Phase 3 with so much mayhem is also moving at a slow pace as it needs more money as usual to further make progress. ![]() ![]() The State Water Policy is yet to see the light of day, as the draft policy even with the cabinet’s nod since 2019 is still lying in the closet with perhaps no expectation to rise from oblivion. The principal department which looks into the affairs of water supply is the undisputed PHE (Public Health Engineering) and the newly created Water Resources Department is of course trailing behind in managing the sources, springs and catchment areas. There is acute shortage of water especially during the dry seasons what the reasons are is hard to comprehend. ‘Water water everywhere Not any drop to drink’ a line from the poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge suits Meghalaya – the abode of clouds, home to the wettest place on earth which has many unanswered questions when it comes to sufficient supply of safe drinking water to the overall population of the state.
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