SHILLONG, Aug 28 (PTI): The Meghalaya government has commissioned a water supply scheme to ease the drinking water crisis that plagues Cherrapunjee, once the wettest place on earth, now known by its old name of Sohra.
Public Health Engineering Minister Prestone Tynsong yesterday announced the Greater Sohra Water Supply Scheme, which will provide drinking water to about 25,000 families in the hill district, 56 km from here.
The Rs 4.13-crore-project will be commissioned between October and December this year and is expected to provide 40 litres of water to each individual ever day, Tynsong said.
Due to dwindling rainfall, except during the monsoons, women and children have to trek miles to fetch drinking water.
Perennial springs which once provided water in abundance are now on the verge of drying up due to large-scale destruction of forests.
