Wah Umkhrah & Wah Umshyrpi pollution
SHILLONG, June 11: In a decisive move to tackle the rising pollution levels in Shillong’s rivers, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner RM Kurbah has issued a public order prohibiting the illegal discharge of waste and sewage into the Umkhrah and Umshyrpi rivers, citing serious threats to public health and environmental safety.
The directive, issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), follows a report by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, which found no improvement in the water quality of both rivers — particularly in critical areas such as Umshyrpi near Law College and Jingkieng Umshyrpi, Umkhrah at Demthring, Umkaliar, near Ling Shohdoh (Mawlai Phudmuri), and Mawpdang Mawlai.
According to the report, high levels of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Faecal Coliform continue to pollute the rivers. This is largely due to the unauthorised discharge of effluents from septic tanks, indiscriminate dumping of garbage into drains and roads, and widespread non-compliance with waste management regulations.
“Such practices have rendered the water unfit for domestic use and are also harming aquatic ecosystems,” the official order stated.
Expressing concern over the direct impact on public well-being, the DC noted that these violations not only pollute the environment but also pose serious health risks to residents across the district.
Citing the urgency of the situation, the District Magistrate has imposed a ban on all forms of illegal waste discharge and dumping in and around the affected river stretches. This includes waste from septic tanks, residential premises, vehicles, commercial establishments, and other sources.
Violators will face penalties under Section 223 of the BNSS and relevant provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
The order, signed and sealed on May 13, 2025, has come into immediate effect, with enforcement measures expected to follow.
Residents have been urged to cooperate with authorities in restoring the health of Shillong’s rivers — once the city’s lifelines, now in urgent need of protection.