Government to hold consultation with Autonomous District Councils on draft water policy

SHILLONG: The State Water Resources department has written to the three Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) for holding consultations on the revised draft of the proposed State Water Policy.

Official sources on Sunday informed that during the recent review of the revised draft of the policy with Chief Secretary P.B.O. Warjri, a suggestion was made on the need to hold consultations with the district councils.

“The views and suggestions of the district councils would be crucial for finalization of the Policy,” official sources informed.

After consultations with the ADCs, the department would also hold consultations with the various stakeholders and traditional institutions on the revised draft.

“We would not rush to finalise the policy. We want to make the draft of the policy elaborative by including the views of all the concerned stakeholders,” the official sources said, while adding that the draft has been re-circulated among all the Government departments.

“We have got a number of comments from the various departments on the policy,” the official sources said.

The draft of the policy has also been put in the public domain inviting views and suggestions.

“We are happy to see that many individuals and groups have come forward with their views and suggestions,” the sources said.

Earlier, the State Government had roped in German International Cooperation (GIZ) to formulate the Water Policy.

“We have roped in GIZ as our technical partner in formulating this very important policy which relates to the preservation of the water bodies,” a senior government official had informed.

According to the official, the German agency had worked in several countries and assisted in formulating similar policies.

“The German firm has brought their international expertise and given valuable suggestions towards formulation of this proposed policy which is shaping up very well,” the official had stated.

India Increasing population and competing uses of water are just two of the multiple factors that put the water sector in Meghalaya under pressure. © GIZ

Increasing population and competing uses of water are just two of the multiple factors that put the water sector in Meghalaya under pressure.