Due to prolonged battles with landowners to give their consent in order that the Meghalaya Protection of Catchment Area Act 1990 can effectively be implemented, the state government has decided to soon come up with a comprehensive amendment to the law.
During question hour, Mawsynram MLA Ollan Sing Suin raised this subject and
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma informed that the government has identified over 7,000 critical springs in the state, with 750 in urgent need of attention. To address this, the government will employ advanced technologies for conservation and rejuvenation through the Soil and Water Conservation Department in collaboration with the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department.
Sangma announced that the government is considering a comprehensive amendment to the Catchment Area Act. The current law has been ineffective due to its reliance on landowners’ consent, which has proven difficult to obtain. Although the amendment could make landowners’ opposition a small hurdle, it has the potential to be highly unpopular.
Sangma, however, still emphasised the need for collaboration with landowners and stakeholders to protect critical catchment areas, which are vital for the state’s water supply.
He highlighted the importance of working together to safeguard the state’s water resources. “We need to work together as the landowners’ consent is required… This is also a message to the landowners that we need to work together for the interest of present and future generations to come,” he said.
United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators Ollan Sing Suin and Renikton Lyngdoh Tongkhar urged the government to take proactive measures to protect catchment areas. They suggested land acquisition and community-led declarations, where traditional institutions or local bodies can declare areas as protected catchment areas, subject to government approval.
Sangma assured that the government is open to all options and will consult with landowners and stakeholders to ensure effective enforcement of the amended act.
