By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Many campaigns and awareness programmes have come and gone but the Wahumkhrah and Umshyrpi rivers have still continued to remain neglected.
Despite intervention of civil societies and other agencies, the two rivers have remained in a sorry state of affair.
Talking to media persons here in the city recently, Water Resources Minister Rowell Lyngdoh said that the civil authority (Shillong Municipal Board) has to take the responsibility of cleaning the rivers.
He said that it was the responsibility of the Government to maintain the two rivers of the city and to ensure their protection.
“Our responsibility is to see that the rivers flow naturally and they remain protected,” he told reporters.
The State Water Resources department has prepared a Rs 50-crore Detailed Project Report (DPR) for flood management programme for the protection of two rivers, Lyngdoh informed, adding that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been cleared by various agencies and is presently being examined by the Central Government.
The programme will also tackle floods caused by the two rivers, especially during the monsoon as the State Government plans to construct drains on the small streams which lead to the Wahumkhrah. The DPR is aimed at creating awareness among the general public on the need to preserve and protect the rivers, Lyngdoh said.
The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council has launched the ‘Clean Wahumkhrah Mission’ and it is also mulling to come up with a bill for protection of the river.
The Minister also informed that the Shillong Municipal Board and the Urban Affairs department had initiated steps by employing some people to clean the river.
“Awareness programmes are also organized for protection of the rivers,” he added.