The International Water Conference held in Shillong reached its conclusion today with the release of the Shillong Declaration by Meghalaya Chief Secretary DP Wahlong. Notable personalities like Dr Shakeel P Ahmed, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, and Dr Joram Beda, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary were among the esteemed attendees.
Addressing the gathering, Wahlong highlighted the serious issue of water pollution despite Meghalaya getting the status of the cleanest village in Asia. He stressed government commitments to reverse this trend and underlined the importance of field experiences in understanding the challenges.
“The paradox is that Meghalaya has the cleanest village in Asia but the two most polluted rivers are right here in the city which we are struggling with again and again. Yesterday, when our cabinet met, some important decisions were taken to ensure that we can change them. Executives from different departments need to go to the customers, and that’s where you start to see the challenges,” Wahlong said.
Discussing resource management, Wahlong stressed the need for rejuvenation and investment while rejecting the notion of fiscal constraints. He stressed on integrating water conservation and waste management into the education curriculum.
“We forget about water conservation and waste management. This is very important because it is through the education department that students are taught where the waste water should go,” he said.
The centerpiece of the program was the Shillong Manifesto read out by Ahmed, which emphasized on promoting water recycling initiatives as well as adopting cutting-edge technology in sanitation and waste management. The manifesto emphasized participatory planning and monitoring for sustainable water management.
Deliberations throughout the conference covered a variety of topics including infrastructure development, climate resilience and disaster management. Actionable strategies emerged to address water challenges in hilly areas.
