JOWAI, Dec 26: Just days after the infamous Lukha River in East Jaintia Hills turned blue anew, hundreds of dead fishes were seen afloat on Saturday morning.
Villagers inhabiting the river bank beomaned that hundreds of fishes were found dead on Saturday morning and were seen floating upon the surface of the contaminated river.
The incident took place in between Khaddum Village and Sonapur Bridge along the catchment area of the Narpuh eco-sensitive zone.
KSU leader, K Suchiang, informed that his organisation has demanded of the East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner to initiate a scientific probe into the cause of the colour-changing phenomenon of the river. Suchiang said a three-week deadline has also been served for conducting the study.
The Lukha River has been turning blue during the winters since 2007. This year, however, the quality water has further gone to the dogs and has turned deep blue.
The locals are of the opinion that the cement waste discharge by cement plants is the reason why the water changes its colour. “If not cement plants, then what should we believe in? We don’t trust the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board report, which had blamed coal mining. If that was the case, why, even after the NGT’s ban, the river water continues to change its colour annually,” Suchiang said.
The initiation of the rejuvenation process of Lukha River was recently announced, and an expert consultant, the Trinity Impex International, will use algae to clean the river.
An urgent meeting of the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Trust was held on December 23 last year with an agenda to decide on rejuvenation of Lukha River.
After the discussion, the DMF Trust committee decided to earmark Rs 1 crore for the project on rejuvenation of the river by an expert consultant, Trinity Impex International.
In November 30, 2020, the Water Resources department invited bids to be submitted in the e-procurement portal for procurement of equipment and chemicals for “study of water quality of rivers in East Jaintia Hills District with specified study on change of colour of Lunar-Lukha River at certain periods of the year”.
The expression of interest (EOI) was also floated on January 8, 2020, by the DMF Trust, East Jaintia Hills, for the pilot project. The EOI was for the treatment of polluted Lunar rivers from Ummutha-Lunar confluence to Lunar-Lukha confluence, which is 2.5 km approximately, in Khliehriat.