Shillong, Sept 23: Shillong’s age-old village councils, known as dorbar shnongs, play a decisive role in water governance, even as the city grapples with worsening shortages.

The study, published in the international journal Water Policy, highlights how these traditional grassroots institutions are attempting to balance heritage with the pressures of modern urban life in managing Shillong’s fragile water resources.

Despite Meghalaya being one of the wettest places on earth, its capital Shillong regularly faces severe water scarcity, particularly during the dry season. According to the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), the city’s formal water supply system caters to only about half of its 3.5 lakh residents’ needs, leaving the rest dependent on private wells, natural springs, and water vendors.

Against this backdrop, the research led by Bankerlang Kharmylliem of Shillong Commerce College and Ngamjahao Kipgen of IIT Guwahati reveals that village councils remain critical players in local water distribution. Their approaches, however, vary dramatically across localities—sometimes making water a shared community resource, and at other times treating it as a commodity.

“Rising water demand, coupled with diminishing supply, puts further strain on already scarce water resources. The expansion of the city into the new Shillong Township may produce new challenges to the present water governance systems,” the authors note.

One of the key institutions involved in the city’s water supply governance are the traditional dorbar shnongs (village councils), which hold significant importance among the Khasi community. The dorbar embodies the Khasi traditional concept of council, encompassing social, political, sacred, and even divine dimensions.

“Water has become commodified across many parts of Shillong, evidenced by the proliferation of private, informal water vendors who distribute water through tanker trucks, containers, and pushcarts. Most of this water comes from private individuals or clans, highlighting the significant influence of clan systems on local water governance,” the study adds.

In Nongrah, for instance, the Pyngrope clan has adopted a commercial model, selling water from its borewells and springs at premium rates. This practice has raised concerns about equity, with poorer households struggling to afford access. In sharp contrast, the Khyriem clan of Nongkhyriem locality maintains a communal system, where water is shared with minimal charges, fostering solidarity across the community.

The study also points to Lawsohtun, another locality, as an example of successful community-driven governance. Here, the village council has enforced restrictions on borewell drilling to protect groundwater and ensures equitable distribution at low cost. Researchers say such models demonstrate how traditional institutions can adapt to urban challenges without abandoning their cultural roots.

Yet, rapid urbanisation, deforestation, and climate change are straining the city’s natural springs, while unchecked drilling of borewells has led to unregulated groundwater extraction. The Central Ground Water Board has already warned that more than 50 percent of Shillong’s groundwater is under stress.

“To address Shillong’s complex water governance challenges, a balanced approach is needed to harmonise traditional and formal institutions. While clans and village councils play a crucial role in local water management, their effectiveness varies due to factors like power structures, resource control, and institutional capacity. Shillong’s water governance requires a balanced approach that addresses the specific needs of its diverse localities while fostering city-wide coherence in policies and practices,” the researchers emphasise.

The study recommends standardising good practices, ensuring transparency in pricing, and harnessing technology such as GIS mapping and mobile apps for water monitoring.

“A comprehensive policy framework is essential for promoting good governance across diverse institutional structures while advancing ecological sustainability. This should encompass a city-wide regulatory system that establishes standardized practices for water distribution, pricing, and quality control, applying principles of good governance such as transparency, accountability, and inclusive participation,” the authors argue.

They add that each dorbar shnong should develop uniform written rules aligned with good governance practices, incorporating green infrastructure and urban forestry initiatives alongside traditional water management approaches.

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