PHE Minister: In Meghalaya Jal Jeevan Mission facing roadblocks

Shillong: Several parts of Meghalaya are facing hurdles in the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission due to drying up of water sources in the northeastern state, PHE Minister Marcuise N Marak said on Sunday.

Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide drinking water at every doorstep in the country by 2024.
“I have received reports that there are Jal Jeevan Mission projects which have already been completed by the department but there is no water at the intake points due to drying up of water sources,” the minister told PTI.

Conservation and potential retention of water catchment areas, projects to improve water conservation, and construction of check dams to maintain water levels are some of the measures that will help tackle the problem, the minister said.
Most areas in the plains have seen an increase in temperature of about six degrees Celsius, while the high altitude areas have seen a deviation of about three to four degrees Celsius, affecting daily life.

Marak said the state government has taken steps to improve water conservation through Asian Development Bank-funded projects.

He said that we are trying to build check dams and reservoirs so that we can maintain the water level.
The minister also said that the problem of water scarcity has emerged across the state due to supply lines being broken and blocked.

He said that the department is trying to resolve the issues as soon as possible.

The minister hoped that the onset of monsoon would ease the water crisis.
Appealing to the citizens to harvest rainwater individually, the Minister said that “House builders should invest in a rainwater harvesting unit. It is very beneficial for the family. It will happen and I urge everyone to try to be part of the solution.

Meghalaya has been able to provide tap water connections to 2.82 lakh households (44.45 per cent) by January 2023, compared to 4,550 households (0.72 per cent) earlier, a senior PHE official told PTI.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma informed the Assembly in the last budget session that the central government has assured an allocation of Rs 3,700 crore to the state in 2023-24 for the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Meghalaya.