By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Water Resources department Rowell Lyngdoh said that the Government has recently submitted a detailed project report (DPR) for tackling the flood problem faced by localities close to the Wahumkhrah River.
Replying to a supplementary question raised by UDP legislator Paul Lyngdoh, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the DPR which has been submitted to the Centre does not cover the issue of human settlement along the bank of the river.
“The main focus of the DPR is to create awareness among the general public on the need to preserve and protect the river,” Lyngdoh said while also stating that the issue of encroachment along the river bank does not come under purview of his department.
He however failed to name the department which dealt with the encroachment which put him in an embarrassing situation.
Replying to another supplementary by the UDP legislator if there was a convergence on the initiatives between the KHADC, Urban Affairs department and Water Resources to protect the river, the Deputy Chief Minister said that definitely there is convergence among the three bodies.
Lyngdoh, however, failed to spell out the manner in which the three agencies are converging towards restoring the past glory of Wahumkhrah river.
Efforts at various level have been made in the past from non governmental quarters to raise awareness on the sorry state of the river.
