By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 2: With the rain comes an exposé of Shillong’s crumbling drainage system, as the city’s streets transform into rivers, flooding homes, businesses, and disrupting lives. Instead of draining away, the relentless rainwater swirls around buildings, erodes roads, and adds to the frustration of residents, aggravating traffic woes and making commuting a major challenge.
The downpour highlights the inadequacies of Shillong city’s drainage infrastructure.
Low-lying areas of the city, such as Polo, Pynthorumkhrah, and Demseiniong, are prime examples of this recurring problem, yet the authorities appear to have abandoned residents to their fate. During heavy downpours, parts of these areas become completely submerged, making commuting impossible.
The city’s inadequate drainage system has become a constant source of concern for residents, turning their lives into a constant battle against waterlogging and flooding.
Despite numerous government plans and assurances to rectify the drainage problem and save rivers like Wahumkhrah and Wah Umshyrpi from further contamination, the dumping of human waste into these rivers continues unabated.
Many of these efforts remain confined to the drawing board. Although committees were formed to address the issue, a visit to the banks of these rivers revealed that no tangible progress has been made. An action-taken report was also submitted following a report published by The Shillong Times titled “Poison flowing in Shillong’s rivers: Water quality index”, yet the problem persists.
Now the question remains: will the rains wash away the excuses and bring real change? Or will Shillong continue to drown in its own vulnerabilities?
