Number of unused water bodies rises from 712 to 1,291
Shillong, Oct 4: The number of water bodies in Meghalaya has grown by 33%, albeit amid concerns about siltation and the number of unused water bodies.
In the second Water Bodies Census, 17,731 water bodies were identified compared to 13,332 in the first census.
Although 93% of the water bodies are currently in use, there is a growing number of unused water bodies. The number has risen sharply from 712 to 1,291, an increase of 81.3 per cent.
Another key area of concern is siltation in the water bodies. In the census, as many as 8,270 water bodies, or 47 per cent, have been identified to have heavy siltation.
Among them are 7,010 ponds, 1,064 water conservation schemes, percolation tanks and check dams, 77 reservoirs and 52 lakes.
The census notes that siltation can reduce the amount of water a structure can hold and, in some cases, contribute to flooding during heavy rain. Desiltation has been identified as one way of restoring storage capacity.
Ponds dominate
Ponds make up most of Meghalaya’s water bodies.
The census has recorded 14,742 ponds, accounting for 83.14 per cent of the total. The state also has 2,383 water conservation schemes, percolation tanks and check dams, 243 reservoirs, 128 lakes, 83 tanks and 152 other water bodies.
The number of ponds has increased by 39.5 per cent since the first census. Lakes rose by 70.7 per cent, while reservoirs recorded a much larger increase of 140.6 per cent. The number of tanks, however, fell by 17 per cent.
The figures underline the role of small water-storage structures in the state’s rural areas.
Most water bodies privately owned
Ownership is another notable feature of Meghalaya’s water landscape.
The census found that 13,366 water bodies, or 75.4 per cent, are privately owned. Of these, 11,853 are owned by individuals.
Publicly owned water bodies number 4,365.
The report also found that 96.4 per cent of the water bodies are located in tribal areas, making local and community-level management an important part of maintaining them.
At the same time, only 389 water bodies — about 7 per cent — have Water Users’ Associations.
The state has 2,230 water bodies linked to central schemes and another 1,099 included in District or State Irrigation Plans.
The census has also recorded 222 encroached water bodies, including 164 ponds, three lakes, 49 water conservation schemes, percolation tanks and check dams, and six other water bodies.
Rain-rich state, seasonal water stress
The numbers are significant for a state that receives heavy rainfall but still faces water shortages in some areas during the dry months.
Meghalaya’s steep terrain allows rainwater to run off quickly, while the state’s geology limits groundwater retention. This makes ponds, reservoirs, check dams and other storage structures important for holding monsoon water for later use.
The report says Meghalaya is expanding water bodies to address seasonal water shortages and reduce climate-related runoff.
The Draft Integrated State Water Policy also proposes reservoirs and check dams to capture monsoon water.
