Parched voters of world’s 2 wettest places cry for water

Guwahati: Voters of two of the world’s wettest places, Cherrapunji (Sohra) and Mawsynram, both in poll-bound Meghalaya, want a permanent solution of the recurring potable water crisis at the top of their wish list this election.
Growing population of the two hill stations and degradation of forest cover have resulted in low recharge of ground water, experts said, which made the water crisis acute till April in the last one decade. Residents rued that little has been done for water harvesting by the government as many of them have been compelled to buy water from private players and community organisations, who are procuring the water from the natural water sources like streams that are managed by traditional dorbars (democratic bodies chosen by the people).
“They have to buy water from other localities that are under different dorbars. Water being prized here during the dry season, it is not given free of cost,” said Shembhalang Kharwanlang, headman of Dorbar Khliehshnong in Sohra.
Kharwanlang, the head of the environmental studies department in Sohra Government College, said without adequate water preservation measures, there is no solution at sight. But ironically, successive governments have failed to resolve the water woes in Cherrapunji that comes under Sohra constituency.
Larisa Myrthong, who works in the dorbar, said the government water supply can provide water hardly for one hour and that’s why they need to buy it from the dorbar. “None of the political parties have raised water woes as a serious issue as it should have been portrayed,” she added.
Locals here said they are paying Rs 300 to Rs 400 for per 1,500 litre of water supplied in each tanker.
In sleepy Mawsynram, the water crisis has compelled many families to walk down to the natural pools traversing through the hilly tracts for more than an hour to collect water.
During the monsoon, clouds float into their homes and even crossed record-breaking rainfall in the past. But long queues before public water taps are a familiar scene in Mawsynram now.
“Without government tap water with a proper water treatment plant for the entire population, the water woes won’t be solved. Even the guest houses get worried during tourist season,” said Bisharlang Kharnaior, who manages a guest house.
Even as the water issue is yet to become a major electoral agenda in Mawsynram, where fewer tourists arrive nowadays compared to Cherrapunji, opposition Congress and TMC have cornered the ruling MDA government for the plight of Sohra — the prime tourist hotspot.
Congress candidate from Sohra, Lakyntiew Sohkhlet, said, “It was Congress MLA PW Khongjee, who initiated construction of rainwater harvesting plants to prevent water loss during the rainy season. If Congress comes to power, we are going to build so many such projects to eradicate the problem completely,” she added.
TMC candidate from Sohra, Harold F Khongsit, said 40% people of Sohra faces acute crisis till April.