Meghalaya achieves 82% rural water coverage, but climate threat casts long shadow

Meghalaya has made significant strides in delivering drinking water to rural households, yet the gains risk being undermined by an escalating climate crisis.

Public Health Engineering Minister Marcuise N. Marak announced that 82% of rural homes in the state are now equipped with tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission, terming the achievement a “historic lifeline” for remote and underserved communities.

But the optimism was tempered by a stark warning. Marak said natural water sources across Meghalaya have shrunk by up to 30% since 2019, a decline he attributed directly to changing climate patterns. “The progress is real, but the danger is rising,” he cautioned, noting that the state’s springs and streams—once abundant—are rapidly depleting.

One bright spot has been the rise