SWKH villages face erosion threat from Umngi river

MAWKYRWAT, April 6: Following complaints from local residents regarding the substandard construction of erosion-control measures, local MLA Pius Marwein, along with top officials from the Brahmaputra Board, Water Resources department, and the Water Commission, on Saturday conducted an inspection of three villages under threat from Umngi river in South West Khasi Hills. The team also reviewed the implementation of the Rs 18-crore project in the affected areas.
The villages — Mawshylliah, Moilam, and Jamadwar — are currently facing severe erosion caused by the river, placing them at high risk of being washed away.
Vicky Wahlang, a resident of Mawshylliah, reported that after the Brahmaputra Board successfully protected Balat village, the river’s course has since shifted, leading to significant erosion in Mawshylliah, Moilam, and Jamadwar. “In just one monsoon season, erosion in some places has reached more than five to seven feet,” he said.
General Manager of the Brahmaputra Board, A Kumar, stated that the purpose of the inspection was to enhance the effectiveness of the project by incorporating feedback from villagers and the local community. “This is a technical committee, and we are going to suggest measures to make the existing work more sustainable and impactful,” he said, adding that the project is targeted for completion within two years.
Meanwhile, MLA Pius Marwein acknowledged that while the implementation of the Rs 18-crore project is progressing, there are areas where the work does not align with the Detailed Project Report (DPR), leading to dissatisfaction among villagers. “We discussed the matter, and the Brahmaputra Board has agreed to modify the implementation in certain locations based on local needs. Their committee will soon meet to seek additional funding, as the current allocation is insufficient,” Marwein explained.
He also informed that the Rs 10-crore project to protect Balat village has been successfully completed, and Balat is no longer affected. However, Umngi river has now begun to erode other villages, warranting urgent attention.