Meghalaya State Council address the need for framework to protect catchment areas from further degradation
Meghalaya State Council on Climate Change & Sustainable Development discussed the need to have a regulatory framework through the Amendment of the existing Meghalaya Protection of Catchment Areas Act, 1990 to protect critical catchment areas from further degradation.
A meeting of the Meghalaya State Council on Climate Change & Sustainable Development under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma, was held on May 16, 2024, at the Main Secretariat Building, Shillong. The meeting centred around leveraging community institutions as part of a collaborative strategy for community-led climate action.
Despite abundant rainfall and lush green landscapes, the State stands at a critical juncture amidst climate change, where urgent and coordinated, interventions are needed to ensure sustainable environmental management and resilience. In response to this, the Council unanimously agreed on the need for coordinated and targeted strategies towards climate action particularly on the Rejuvenation of critical water sources, Catchment area protection and massive afforestation.
With respect to the rejuvenation of critical water sources, the PHE Department has identified critical water sources in the State that require immediate rejuvenation to ensure source sustainability and supply of water. To bring about a collaborative response to this challenge, it was highlighted how the State is working on a GIS-based enabling technology platform to visualise various interventions for rejuvenation at the village level,
