SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has addressed operational challenges in several Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) projects, citing climate-induced depletion of water sources and complications from retrofitting as key hurdles.
While highlighting the state’s progress from just 4,000 household tap connections in 2019 to over five lakh today, Sangma acknowledged that about 10–15 projects are hampered by dwindling natural sources and structural limitations.
The Chief Minister explained that changing rainfall patterns and climate disruptions have led to unexpected reductions in natural water flows, affecting the sustainability of some schemes.
Additionally, the rapid rollout of JJM under tight timelines required retrofitting of existing water supply systems to expand coverage, often without thorough verification of source yield.
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As a result, some older sources cannot sustain the expanded network.
Sangma assured that the government is auditing affected sites and working on solutions, including capacity augmentation and developing new supply sources.
He urged citizens facing water supply issues to report them via the “CM Connect” helpline at 1971, enabling real-time tracking and faster corrective action.
The Chief Minister expressed optimism that targeted interventions will bridge current gaps and ensure reliable tap water access across Meghalaya.
(4FrontMedia news)
