Governor concerned over global warming effect

  • 19/09/2008

  • Shillong Times (Shillong)

Meghalaya, despite its low population density and little industrialization, contributes least to global warming, but could become one of the worst sufferer of the impending climate change, Governor RS Mooshahary said. The small state with significant forest cover is not a significant contributor to climate change. Its consumption of the fossil fuel and other petro derivatives is also extremely low, Mr Mooshahary said in the just-concluded governors' conference. But despite all these factors, there is considerable evidence to suggest that the state is already experiencing the process of climate change. "This is reflected in heightened erraticity of weather in the form of temperature, rainfall and humidity variations and increased unpredictability," he said. The Governor cautioned that Meghalaya could be a potential victim of climate change because of rise in sea level and consequent wave of illegal immigrants flooding the hill state. The global warming would also seriously impact the bio-diversity of the state. The first impact of climate change in Meghalaya was felt with two small villages, Sohra and Mawsynram, known for the place getting world's most rainfall, receiving less rains. The quantum of rainfall has also become less with each season and neighbouring Assam even experienced prolonged dry spell. Earlier Greenpeace and other NGOs had painted a grim picture of massive displacement of population in India and Bangladesh due to climate change which would put the already illegal immigrants swamped North East into demographic catastrophe and related socio-economic upheavals. A staggering 125 million people could be displaced in India and Bangladesh by a rise in the sea level triggered by an increase in global temperature this century, they had said. The Governor cautioned that the climate change has already affected the agriculture of the state. It could also have adverse consequences for the power sector and drinking water supply, he said.