Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday announced that a Rs. 700-crore water supply project for Shillong has reached an advanced stage of implementation, promising long-awaited relief for residents grappling with shortages.
Addressing the Assembly, Sangma said the scheme is designed to ease the city’s chronic water woes and benefit adjoining areas.
Alongside, the Wahrynthem water project—drawing 33 million litres per day from the Umngot river at Dawki—is also in the pipeline to further strengthen supply.
Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma raised concerns about the sustainability of such projects in the face of erratic rainfall and climate change.
In response, the chief minister said the government is tackling these challenges through externally aided projects focusing on natural resource management, rejuvenation of springs, and catchment area protection.
He added that the Meghalaya Climate Council, guided by the state’s pioneering water policy adopted in 2019, is driving efforts to secure water sources.
The chief minister admitted that Meghalaya has faced a rainfall deficit of nearly 50 per cent this year, but assured that multiple sources are being tapped to meet growing demand.
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Public Health Engineering Minister Marcuise N. Marak, updating the House on the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS), said Phase-III of the project would be completed by March next year.
Once operational, it is expected to significantly reduce the city’s supply gap.
Currently, Shillong and its surrounding areas require 5.58 crore litres of drinking water daily, but receive only 4.17 crore litres, leaving a shortfall of 1.40 crore litres.
In Mawlai alone, daily demand stands at 92.5 lakh litres, while supply meets only 64.7 lakh litres, creating a deficit of nearly 28 lakh litres.
