Shillong: The International Water Conclave was held today at the state convention centre in Shillong, with activities such as painting, quizzes, and photo competitions centered around water conservation. Meghalaya's Water Resources Minister Coming One Ymbon attended as the chief guest.

Addressing the significance of conservation, Dr Shakil P Ahammed, additional chief secretary of Meghalaya, urged the youth to embrace the spirit of preserving nature and water. Emphasizing intergenerational responsibility, he stressed the need for "sustainable practices" to secure the future.

"Our fathers have conserved water; they have been conserving nature, which we are enjoying today. If we don’t save our planet, if we don’t protect water, if we don’t protect nature, the coming generation will have a lot of problems", he said.

The official warned that the shortfall would be around 63 billion cubic meters of water between supply and demand by 2040 if conservation methods are not brought into play.

Ymbon, in his address, highlighted the challenges of a potential water shortfall by 2040 and the importance of reducing usage, recycling water, and respecting resources. He urged the younger generation to take a pledge for a better planet and applauded participants for their commitment.

“Am aware of my response for conserving water for the future generation, he requested the entire youth in our state to protect the environment and save water,” he added.

He further said, "We encounter a lot of challenges in preserving water like water scarcity, pollution, and climate change. It is a collective response from all of us to concentrate and act to safeguard water resources for future generations. Close to 90 percent of rainwater flows either to Bangladesh or to Assam. We need to protect and conserve it for sustainability and future availability of water."

The Conclave also witnessed insights from various experts and officials, addressing the global water crisis, pollution, and climate change.

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