Shillong, July 01: In an age old relationship between man and nature, many villagers in Meghalaya`s Garo hills still depend on crabs to locate underground drinking water sources.

"We watch the crabs as they know best where water is. Once they dig for water, we follow and find the water," says headman Saren M Sangma of Rangira Bolsalgre, a small hamlet in the West Garo hills.

Like most Garo villages which have no facilities for drinking water, the residents depend on underground springs. And, this is where the role of crabs cames in. They locate water sources by digging with their sharp claws.

"The age-old system of locating underground water by following the crabs is still widely practised in several villages in the interior Garo Hills," he said.

A few years ago though, Rangira Bolsalgre, which was dependent on crabs for locating drinking water was struck by water borne diseases, especially during the monsoon. Since following crabs leads to finding of a limited quantity of water the village women have to trek 4 to 5 kms everyday to streams and rivers for drinking water. However, things are now changing in some villages with the successful implementation of the centrally-sponsored Swajaldhara Scheme and several villages in the Garo Hills now have bore-wells.

Bureau Report