WILLIAMNAGAR: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today issued a strong warning that the State may have already crossed a critical climate change tipping point, where the degradation of water bodies, forests, and agricultural systems is becoming visible and increasingly difficult to reverse.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the Soil Lake at Williamnagar in East Garo Hills — an eco-tourism and conservation project developed under the Nengsang River Valley Project (RVP).
“Our race against climate change is becoming more difficult each day”
Calling climate change the most urgent threat to Meghalaya’s ecology, the Chief Minister said that although the impacts may not appear dramatic from day to day, scientific studies indicate that the State is already experiencing severe long-term disruptions.
“It may seem like we have enough time, but let me tell you, our race against climate change is becoming more difficult each day,” he said. “Studies indicate that Meghalaya may have even crossed the tipping point, where the impact on our water bodies, agricultural products, forest cover, and environment is already happening.”
He cautioned that the next decade could pose serious challenges for the State, particularly in terms of water availability for rural households, the health of rivers and springs, and the stability of forest ecosystems.
Need for urgent action: “What we do today will determine tomorrow’s survival”
Reiterating the government’s commitment to environmental protection, the Chief Minister urged the Soil & Water Conservation Department to scale up rejuvenation efforts, especially in rural Meghalaya where most of the State’s nearly 70,000 springs are located.
“You have started doing commendable work, but we need more,” he said. “With community participation, we can conserve, preserve, and rejuvenate our water bodies.”
Soil Lake: A blend of eco-restoration and tourism
Dedicating the newly developed Soil Lake to the people of Williamnagar, Conrad K. Sangma said the project fulfills a long-standing vision of late P.A. Sangma, who had dreamed of rejuvenating the spring and its surrounding landscape.
The lake, spanning 0.5 hectares and holding nearly 10,000 cubic metres of water, is designed both as a conservation asset and a sustainable eco-tourism space that enhances the aesthetic appeal of the town.
Soil & Water Conservation Minister Marcuise N. Marak echoed the Chief Minister’s concerns, noting that climate change is already affecting Meghalaya’s springs, rainfall behaviour, and soil structure.
“Nearly 70,000 springs sustain our rural households, and many of them are now under threat,” he said. “Over 40% of villages have reported reduced water availability during the lean season.”
He informed that the State has set up the Meghalaya Climate Change Council and is implementing a range of programmes—from Spring Rejuvenation and watershed development to community-based climate-adaptative water harvesting systems. More than 500 new conservation structures will be constructed in the coming years.
A call for unity against climate vulnerability
The Chief Minister also cautioned against divisive narratives on social media, stating that climate action and development must be viewed as statewide priorities, not regional competitions.
“Our government is working for all communities and all districts. We must remain united and not fall prey to negativity,” he said.
