SHILLONG, Aug 11: The Synjuk Ki Nongsynshar Shnong Nongthymmai Pyllun (SKNSNP), led by Bantylli Lang Narry, Rangbah Shnong of Nongrim Hills, met at the Meghalaya Institute of Governance (MIG), Nongrim Hills, to deliberate on the state of the rivers within their respective shnong on Saturday. The Synjuk comprises the Rangbah Shnong of 15 compact localities which have rivers flowing through their jurisdiction until they finally reach the Umkaliar river which then joins the Wah Umkhrah.
The MIG officials made a graphic presentation of the rivers flowing through various localities and their status at different stages of their flow as captured by drone images. At different stages of the rivers, encroachment was clearly visible thereby reducing the width of the rivers. What was also visible was garbage being dumped in rivers in certain localities.
Addressing the gathering of the which also included members of the Operation Clean-Up (OCU) team, Aiban Swer, Director, MIG said that the meeting is an outcome of the result of the ongoing discussion on how to stop garbage from being dumped in rivers and rejuvenating the rivers through a series of action plans. Swer informed that Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma had earlier stated that if the Dorbar Shnong have a clear and constructive action plan on rejuvenating rivers, the Government would find the funds to assist the Shnongs in their endeavour. “The purpose of such meetings is to reduce the trust deficit between the government and the public and to ensure that if there is need for land acquisition the process should be transparent and in greater public interest,” Swer added. He was pointing at the reluctance of different villages to part with land for waste management.
SKNSNP president, Bantylli Lang Narry stated that there is already a scheme called Stretch 7 for River Rejuvenation and this attempt to bring convergence of shnongs for better management of rivers in their localities is a step in the right direction. However, he also felt that certain localities such as Umpling and Nongrah should also be included as the same river also flows through those localities. He urged the government to pass strictures for creating traps in drains that flow from individual households and land up in public drains which ultimately find their way into the rivers.
Rangbah Shnong of Lapalang, Kyntiew Sohtun felt that the garbage traps along rivers should be at places where garbage trucks can pick up the waste that is collected. He also urged the MIG to take up the issue of CCTV cameras with the Smart City project. “Unless CCTV cameras are placed at vantage points along the river route, people will continue to violate all the rules. Once the Shnong starts collecting fines from polluters caught on CCTV cameras, people would be more careful about dumping waste in rivers,” Sohtun said.
The meeting resolved that every Dorbar Shnong would identify the place where the traps across the river would be placed and work out the expenses involved. A detailed project report of the plan and expenses would be given to the government.
