Satellite Data Reveals 27% Increase in Meghalay’s Water Bodies
A new satellite data analysis by the Centre of Excellence for Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Livelihoods under MBDA reveals a 27% increase in surface water bodies in Meghalaya over eight years. Experts warn this may indicate serious ecological degradation, including forest loss, groundwater decline, and altered rainfall patterns.
Shillong, Meghalaya – A recent analysis of satellite data by the Centre of Excellence for Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Livelihoods (CoE-NRM&SL), operating under the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA), has revealed a remarkable 27% increase in the state’s surface water bodies over the past eight years. However, while this may seem like good news for a region often grappling with water stress, experts caution that the trend may signal deeper, potentially troubling shifts in the state’s hydrology and ecosystem health.
Two independent satellite-based studies — one spanning 2006 to 2017 and another from 2014 to 2022 — have confirmed this upward trend in water surface coverage. Yet, according to Dr Subhash Ashutosh, IFS (Retd), Co-Chairman and Director of CoE-NRM&SL, the rise is not necessarily a cause for celebration.
“This cannot simply be attributed to better rainfall or natural seasonal variations,” Dr Ashutosh informed. “Instead, it may point to impaired percolation in our hilly terrain, resulting in waterlogging in lower-lying areas. If so, this is a red flag — not a green one — for the health of our ecosystems.”
A mid-2022 study specifically examining areca nut plantations across seven 100 sq km grids added another layer of complexity. It revealed an unexpected surge in water body areas across all grids, with Ri-Bhoi district registering a staggering 631% increase — a figure that raised both eyebrows and concern.
To further validate these findings, a comprehensive “wall-to-wall” analysis was conducted between October 2023 and March 2024 using LANDSAT satellite imagery and the Normalised Difference Water Index (NDWI). This study mapped water bodies larger than 0.36 hectares during the state’s dry season in both 2014 and 2022, ensuring minimal distortion from cloud cover or rainfall. More than 6 0 high-resolution satellite scenes were processed for the exercise.
The results were striking: total surface water area expanded from 11,350 hectares in 2014 to 14,432 hectares in 2022. While certain districts — including South West Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, and East Garo Hills — exhibited sharp increases, others such as Ri-Bhoi, East Khasi Hills, and East Jaintia Hills showed a reduction in water bodies, indicating regional variations.
Dr Ashutosh underscored that the rise in surface water must be viewed in tandem with declining spring flows and deteriorating groundwater levels — even in areas historically drenched by rainfall.
“Rainfall intensity has indeed increased, but it is compressed into fewer days,” he explained. “This has escalated surface runoff and erosion while reducing the opportunity for natural percolation. Our forests, degraded in both quality and extent, no longer play their traditional role in water absorption.”
The transformation of large swathes of natural forest into monoculture plantations — particularly areca nut — has compounded the issue. “In places like Garo Hills, natural forests are giving way to plantations that are far less efficient at absorbing rainwater,” Dr Ashutosh added.
The implications are far-reaching. From spring water availability and drinking water schemes to agricultural viability and flood management, the effects of altered surface water dynamics are being felt across sectors. Even iconic locations like Mawphlang and Sohra, long considered synonymous with rain, are now grappling with water stress.
In light of these findings, CoE-NRM&SL has recommended an independent verification of the data by a third-party institution such as the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) or the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati.
“Water doesn’t exist in a vacuum — it is intricately linked to soil, vegetation, land use and farming systems. The data we’ve generated has significant policy implications,” said Dr Ashutosh.
While MBDA continues its work on micro-level planning through drone mapping, watershed conservation, and source sustainability, this large-scale analysis offers a vital “macro-diagnostic” of Meghalaya’s environmental health.
“You can think of this study as a state-level X-ray,” Dr Ashutosh noted. “It helps us understand where the fractures lie. Now, our water supply strategies must include better catchment protection, rainwater harvesting, and the creation of check dams to reduce runoff and improve retention.”
The state government has already begun applying Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and drone technology to identify micro-catchments and plan infrastructure accordingly.
MBDA is no stranger to pioneering initiatives. It recently undertook Meghalaya’s first bamboo resource assessment across more than 7,000 sample plots. This landmark study has already catalysed the development of what may soon become India’s largest bamboo-based industry in Garo Hills.
The recent water body study was conducted by Samuel Cooper Sungoh, Fettleman Dohling, and Norita Nongbet Sohlang under the supervision of Dr Subhash Ashutosh. Their work may well shape the future of water management and environmental policy in Meghalaya for years to come.
As Meghalaya navigates a rapidly changing climate and shifting land-use patterns, such studies underscore the need for a delicate balance — between harnessing natural resources and preserving the very ecosystems that sustain them.
Sources : The Shillong Times
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