Israel to quench Cherrapunjee thirst
Cherrapunjee, the world's wettest spot, faces acute shortage of water during the post-monsoon months and a slew of measures will be initiated by Israeli experts from this month to restore its environment and harvest rain water.
Experts blame large-scale destruction of forests in the area, which receives an annual rainfall of 12000 mm, for the disappearance of perennial springs in the hills resulting in acute water crisis. So much so that people there even find it difficult to get drinking water.
According to David Rumnong Ashkenazy, business head and representative in India for Argos (Agri Projects) Ltd of Israel, a team of experts from Israel comprising of Ishay Shecter, who is incharge of forestation planning for Israel, water and soil engineer M Rozenthal and Argos managing director M Sharon, will visit the state and start the restoration work this month.
“We have planned a holistic approach and steps will be taken wherein rain water harvesting and a distribution system, livelihood, forestry and agriculture will be created together with the local experts for phase-wise implemented,” Ashkenazy said in a statement.
The first phase of the restoration work at Cherrapunjee will begin in February and the experts will work together with the department of soil and water conservation and the people of the area.
The team will jointly plan and construct suitable systems to collect, store and transport rainwater and to create livelihood for the people, he said.