The Problem of Water Scarcity in Northeast India

Guwahati, July 2, 2019:

A major issue that is happening now across the country is water scarcity, and the Northeatern states are also not exempt from this worrying phenomenon.

In spite of receiving intensive orographic rainfall, Northeastern States face increasing water scarcity day by day.

Today’s scarcity in the North-Eastern States of India is mostly triggered by anthropogenic (pollution caused by humans) activities decreasing supply both in relative term and absolute term.

Shillong being the wettest place on earth also faces crisis as almost every household and hostel has to purchase water to meet their daily requirement.

Meanwhile, senior scientist at Nagaland Science and Technology Council (NASTEC), Dr. Nesatalu Hiese said Nagaland is experiencing an economic water scarcity mainly induced by lack of investment in resource construction and management to meet the demand.

Arunachal Pradesh is also facing problems despite having numerous rivers. Water both quantitative and qualitative, is fast becoming a scarce commodity in northeast India.

In Assam too, people living in metropolitan areas are having to deal with scarcity. "The level goes down each year. Due to this, we are having trouble doing our regular chores", says a resident of Guwahati city residing in an apartment building.

We often take the water coming out of the tap for granted, we turn the handle and H20 flows but that’s not the case in many places around the world.

Cape Town, South Africa, may be the first city to run out of water and Chennai in India is another example as most of the Chennai population today depends on tankers, municipal supply and private supply for drinking water.

The government of these states are considering reuse of water from the category of black and grey water.

Inside Northeast’s Campaign #LetsSaveDeeporBeel is now supported by Oil India Limited (OIL). Join us as we continue the awareness campaign to preserve the only Ramsar site in Assam which is facing immense threats. We need your held to preserve this site of great ecological importance. Join the #LetsSaveDeeporBeel campaign and tweet about it, and do tag us on Twitter. Let’s make some noise!