By Our Reporter
Shillong: The land tenure system followed by the indigenous people of the State which grants them the freedom to utilise their land in any manner they want has affected the lakes and rivers in the State as is evident from the present condition of the Wah Umiew which is the main source of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS) at Mawphlang.
The Public Health Engineering (PHE) department has drawn out conclusions that the current situation of the Wah Umiew, which generates water to the treatment plants at Mawphlang, was due to rampant sandstone mining and presence of stone quarries at Umtyngngar (Mylliem) and Mawjrong in East Khasi Hills.
During an inspection conducted by PHE Minister Shitlang Pale along with PHE engineers at Mawphlang on Friday, it was observed that this main source which supplies drinking water to the people of Shillong has turned into red colour.
“Rampant digging of sandstones and presence of stone quarries at the site of the Wah Umtyngngar has diluted the water as the wastes flow to the Wah Umtyngngar which connects the Wah Umiew,” PHE Additional Chief Engineer SK Sunn said.
Talking to reporters on Friday, Sunn said despite knowing the real reason behind the change in the colour of the water at Wah Umiew, it is difficult to interfere into the work carried out by the people of Umtyngngar and Mawjrong as the land tenure system followed in the State has given them the liberty to do what they want and the Government cannot do anything in this regard.
“If the digging continues, then it will pose a great danger to the drinking water supply,” he added.
It may be mentioned that recently the Chairman of the State Government Programme Implementation Monitoring Committee (SGPIMC) Friday Lyngdoh along with former Jaiaw MLA AH Scott Lyngdoh expressed concern over this rampant digging of quarry stones at Umtyngngar and Mawjrong, and at the same time urged the PHE department to protect these catchments area.
Reacting to the request laid by the SGPIMC, Sunn said it is difficult for the department to protect these catchments areas despite the Meghalaya Protection of Catchments Area Act, 1990 as the land belongs to individuals. “Under this act, there is a rule where within a distance of 100 metres from the river, no digging or mining are allowed, but what is more disheartening is that the said lands belong to certain individuals who care less for the benefit of a State and the people,” Sunn lamented.
“It is now absolutely necessary for the State Government to amend the said Act to protect the catchments and to invoke Section 23 of the Indian Penalty Code (IPC) which prohibits any activities which dilute and pollute the rivers and streams,” Sunn said, adding, “Now it all depends on the State Government to work out strategies to protect the catchments area.”