By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: As the State gears up to observe World Environment Day on Wednesday, there are several questions that seek answers. Meghalaya has witnessed changes in the past few decades which can be only termed as environmental degradation.
Unrestricted mining activities, improper waste management and change in forest cover has dealt many a blow to pristine hill state.
A prominent citizen of the State, veteran educationist EN Shullai expressed pity over the ongoing environmental degradation in the state while ruing the fact that Meghalaya has changed in more than one way in the past few decades.
“One cannot compare the condition of our environment then and now”, Shullai said while pointing out some activities which has contributed to environmental degradation include mining, deforestation, poisoning of river bodies, lack of civic sense and the likes.
Terming the government as ‘weak’, the veteran educationist said, “The government should be bold enough to enforce the laws already proclaimed and should not allow rich and selfish coal barons to deplete the environment.”
Echoing similar views, a professor of NEHU, Dr Prasenjit Biswa said that the depletion of water table, congestion, high level of toxicity caused due to vehicular traffic and climate change which is evident from an increase in the temperature, which has risen by to 2-3 degrees in the last five years, is a clear indication of a degrading environment.
“It is high time an alarm bell is sounded for the government to take the matter seriously”, Dr Biswa said while adding that even the pollution control board, both at the Centre and at the State level has not been able to deliver effectively.
Suggesting a solution to this problem, the professor said that there should more citizen groups in the concerned localities which are self regulated and controlled so as to spread awareness to the masses on the importance of preserving the environment.
The issue was also deliberated at large by the student community of the State who observed that uncontrolled and unabated pollution will put at risk the lives of many while leaving behind an unhealthy environment for the future generations.
Putting his views across, Kenny R Shullai, a 3rd year Environmental Economics student of St Edmund’s College said, “Our environment is in bad shape but no one seems to bother. Both the Central and the State pollution control board are silent spectators to the constant degradation of the environment.”
“I want the people in Meghalaya as well as the rest of the country to have an epiphany to realise the greatest truth of all that we are not exclusive of nature but part and parcel of it. The complacency has to stop,” he added.
On the same note, a 3rd year English honours student of St Anthony’s College, Bibin K Antony, while comparing Shillong to other cities of the north east said, “As a visiting student, I can say that Shillong is much cleaner than other cities of the region but three years since I have been here, it’s a sorry sight to see Shillong getting worse day by day.”
Similarly, second year BSW student of St Edmund’s College while expressing concern over the sorry sight of the state at present said that more awareness should be imparted to the people while suggesting keeping dustbins at every localities, about 3kms away from one junction.
Another 3rd year English student of St Anthony’s College, Melari Phylla War said “The municipal board should take more initiatives to ensure that garbage are not thrown carelessly in and around the city,” adding that it is high time for the people of the state to work together and revive the dying city.