KSU may approach NGT over ‘blue’ river

JOWAI: The Lukha river in Narpuh Elaka in East Jaintia Hills has again turned blue but this time there was no fish left to die. Now, local NGOs are contemplating approaching the National Green Tribunal for help.
Villagers of Sunapur said the water turned into bright sky blue about a week ago. The colour change, however, does not surprise locals any more as it has been happening for the past 10 years.
“It (the change of colour) started at the confluence of the Lunar and the Lukha at a place called Khad-tlang,” Rangbah shnong of Sunapur S Lamare said.
The change of colour, which occurred for the first time in January 2007, has become an annual phenomenon noticeable between November and February.
Locals blame cement plants for the phenomenon. But the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board blames coal mining.
“The NGT ban on coal mining has continued for about three years but the river still changes its colour. This indicates that coal mining is not the cause of the river contamination.
“We believed that the cement plants from Lumshnong area are causing such colour change and contamination,” the headman of Sunapur said.
The villagers have stopped using the water. KSU General Secretary of Narpuh unit K.S Suchiang said, “We have no other option but to file a petition with the NGT.”