SHILLONG, April 16: The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) has cautioned against premature celebration of the improvement in the condition of the Lukha river in Jaintia Hills and has accentuated the need to be wary of the behaviour of algae lest there is an increase in coal mining activities nearby.
Lukha river, which was once a major source of livelihood for many families, became infamous for its colour-changing phenomenon reportedly due to acidic discharge from mines and industries. However, the government then took an initiative to revive it through the use of algae.
Recently, people had also expressed happiness to see the river’s improved condition.
However, an official at the MSPCB has maintained that one must wait for two-three seasons before coming to any conclusion.
“The idea (to use algae) was on trial and it is too early to say it is a success,” the official said, adding that coal mining was rampant in the area earlier but it has now receded.
“The conditions right now are ideal but we are not sure how algae will behave if there are increasing activities of coal mining,” the official said.
He also said that the MSPCB will have to look at different parameters and situations before coming to any conclusion but felt that pollution in the river is not at a high level as evident from the survival of the algae.
Stating that the board does not have any immediate plan to replicate the same idea in cleaning other rivers, the official said the water of the Lukha was highly acidic whereas the other rivers may not be as highly acidic.
The pilot project to revive Lukha using algae, called phycoremediation, was set in motion by Forest and Environment Minister, James PK Sangma in collaboration with a private company.
Talking about Wahumkhrah river, the official said the authorities are coming up with decentralised effluent treatment system since it has a lot of tributaries.
“We will treat the major tributaries first and see whether or not the pollution load has decreased. Accordingly, we will see how we can rejuvenate the river,” the official said.