By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 13: The Operation Clean-Up (OCU) team involved in river cleaning since 2019 met KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM), Shemborlang Rynjah, to impress upon the Council the need to protect the rivers and water bodies within its jurisdiction.
The Executive Member in-charge Environment, Aibandaplin F Lyngdoh, was also present at the meeting.
OCU team leader, Patricia Mukhim, in a memorandum submitted to the KHADC CEM, said that there is a need to protect rivers and water bodies from pollution caused due to dumping of garbage, direct release of waste from the septic tanks and drains and also washing of vehicles in the rivers.
She also informed the newly appointed CEM that the group had been involved in cleaning the Umkaliar River since 2019.
“We have not seen any positive changes despite our consistent efforts to clean the river. People continue to dump garbage in the river. Even the Dorbar Shnongs are not showing seriousness in taking measures to impress upon the residents the importance of protecting the environment and its surroundings,” Mukhim said.
The OCU team leader said that they had reached out to the various localities from time to time to suggest that there is a need to put up some kind of barricade along the river which will act as a boundary so that there is no blame game among the localities.
She also said that the Wah Umkaliar flows through several Shnong right from Lapalang, Nongrah, Rynjah, Umpling, Nongmynsong among others.
The group said that the constructions of houses near the river without any regulation and the release of waste water from the households have polluted many of the rivers and water bodies.
Stating that since the KHADC is the custodian of rivers, forest, land and mineral resources, Mukhim said that they would like to urge upon the Council to convene the Dorbar of the various Rangbah Shnong to deliberate over this very crucial and sensitive matter.
The OCU team members also pointed out that over 741 critical water sources are drying up and it is a wake-up call for everyone on the importance of protecting the rivers and water bodies by regulating sand and stone mining in order to protect the water
“We fear that we will be facing serious drought in the near future if we don’t take urgent steps to protect water bodies,” the OCU group members said.
Drawing the attention of the CEM to the blatant violation of the Acts passed by the relevant department which bans washing of vehicles in rivers, the OCU urged the KHADC CEM to put a complete ban on washing of vehicles in Umkaliar river and also suggested summoning the members of the Nongmynsong Dorbar Shnong, who continue to allow people to wash their vehicles in the river.
“We are confident that our meeting with you will not be wasted and you will take some steps to address the issue which we have raised,” the OCU team added.
Giving a patient hearing to the OCU team, KHADC CEM Shanborlang Rynjah took copious notes of their major concerns and asked the EM in charge of Environment, Aibandaplin Lyngdoh, to take stock of these concerns by attending the OCU river cleaning drive on Saturday.
Rynjah said the KHADC will give priority to conserving the environment and water bodies in particular and said that he had discussions with the Shillong MP, Ricky Syngkon on the matter so that necessary action can also be taken from his end to address the environmental concerns.