Shillong, Aug 26: Meghalaya PHE Minister Renikton Tongkhar on Friday expressed concern over the water crisis in the State despite it being the wettest place in the country.

Tongkhar urged citizens to contain or harvest rain water. “It is alarming that water sources are drying up so containing rain water is the need of the hour,” he exhorted.

The PHE Minister made these comments on the sidelines of the North East Water Conclave at Shillong ‘s state convention centre.

Asked about the steps taken to preserve the catchment areas, Tongkhar said they need financial support from Central Government so that the government can acquire land from private owners.

“Until and unless we do the land acquisition it is not easy for government to take ownership of the catchment areas. We need to protect these catchment areas so that they are untouched. Even tree plantation in these areas is needed. We also need to come up with a regulation that catchment areas should not be utilised for any other activities except tree plantation,” he said.