JOWAI, June 27: In a decisive move to prevent further degradation of the Myntdu river, the District Magistrate of West Jaintia Hills has issued an order under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), prohibiting sand mining and stone quarrying along the Myntdu river and its riverbed. The order aims to address the growing environmental concerns and to restore the river to its former state.
The order also bans activities such as washing clothes and vehicles, as well as the dumping of spoils and solid and liquid waste materials — common practices among the local populace.
This comprehensive ban further addresses the longstanding requests of residents who rely on the Myntdu river for their water supply. The prohibition includes the disposal of waste, sand, mud, and stones from road construction projects, particularly the Jowai Bypass road construction stretching from Khliehtyrchi to Treiongriang. The directive explicitly forbids the dumping of any materials into the river that would contribute to its pollution.
The District Magistrate made this crucial decision after closely observing the deteriorating condition of the river and its tributaries. The state of the Myntdu river has been a matter of grave concern, with numerous complaints from locals about the contamination of the water, rendering it unfit for domestic use and disrupting the entire water supply of Jowai town.
