JOWAI: Residents of Mutong village in East Jaintia Hills have joined hands to construct a kilometre-long footpath for tourists to make their way comfortably to the Kshaid Moopun, a less known but beautiful waterfall.
The Kshaid Moopun is located within the jurisdiction of the Mutong village Dorbar.
The village dorbar aims to make Moopun a sought-after tourist destination in the mineral-rich district of Meghalaya.
“We know that tourism is the biggest industry that can boost the living standards of our local people and the dorbar shnong as a whole decided to construct a one-km long footpath for tourists to comfortably walk their way to the beautiful waterfall”, said the headman of the village, Helping Phawa who is also a former MDC from the village.
The villagers started the construction on Saturday.
“If people visit this place, they will have many options to see the beauty of nature which include the Moopun Waterfall, the ‘Sahksaw’ riverside, the ‘Twai Langdong’ and the famous waterfall of Jaintia Hills- the Rynji besides the picturesque landscapes and green forests”, Phawa said.
“We would like to urge people to visit our village along with places such as Shnongpdeng and Mawlynnong”, the headman added.
The construction of the footpath and the beautification of the area were taken up by the Dorbar Shnong with support from the East Jaintia Hills deputy commissioner and block development officer, Khliehriat C&RD Block.
“I have inspected places around the area and found that it has great potential for tourism”, said M.S. Lhuid, the deputy Commissioner, in a letter to the Rangbah Shnong.
The deputy commissioner also gave a green signal for development and beautification of the area, assuring the village dorbar of providing funds from his office.
The Moopun falls has its own legend which has been verbally handed over from generation to generation.
“The construction of the footpath has just started and we will complete the work before September 27. The deputy commissioner will inaugurate the tourist site on September 27”, village employment council (VEC) secretary B Phawa said.
The construction of the approach road and footpath was also initiated by the block development officer through MGNREGS – a 100-day wages scheme for rural inhabitants.
“We would like to invite people from across the country and abroad to come and witness the beauty of this place”, Phawa said.
