Shillong, June 23: Meghalaya has begun ramping up preparedness measures amid forecasts indicating the possible development of El Niño conditions that could affect rainfall patterns, water availability and agriculture across the state.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the Meghalaya Climate Council to review risks and formulate response strategies across key sectors, including water resources, agriculture, public health, disaster management and food security.
El Niño, a climate phenomenon linked to unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, has historically been associated with changes in India’s monsoon behaviour, including reduced rainfall, prolonged dry spells and extreme weather events.
While experts noted that the exact impact on Meghalaya remains uncertain, the Chief Minister stressed the need for proactive planning rather than waiting for adverse conditions to emerge.
Water security emerged as a major focus area during the meeting. Departments were directed to accelerate pond restoration, water harvesting projects, groundwater recharge initiatives, watershed management programmes and the creation of additional storage infrastructure.
The Agriculture Department informed the council that contingency plans are already in place, with efforts underway to ensure adequate seed availability, promote short-duration crop varieties and strengthen irrigation support for farmers.
Officials also reviewed emergency drinking water supply plans, food grain stock management and early warning systems to ensure timely response in the event of prolonged dry spells or weather disruptions.
The Chief Minister called for stronger public participation, urging communities, local institutions and village organisations to actively support water conservation and climate resilience efforts.
Emphasising that preparedness remains the state’s strongest defence against climate uncertainty, Sangma directed departments to convert plans into time-bound action and ensure coordinated implementation across sectors.
