SHILLONG, Aug 6: The Hynniewtrep Youths’ Council (HYC), Shella area unit, has urged the state government to take immediate steps to mitigate soil erosion and provide flood protection in the Shella area, particularly along the Umiam river downstream.
In a letter to Water Resources Minister Comingone Ymbon, HYC-Shella area unit general secretary Seiborlang Diengdoh highlighted the worsening situation of flash floods and soil erosion in Shella village, and called for urgent government intervention.
“This letter seeks to bring to your kind attention the critical and worsening situation of flash floods and soil erosion in Shella village and the need for immediate actions in this regard,” he wrote.
He pointed out that Meghalaya, known for its heavy rainfall and hilly terrain, is increasingly vulnerable to devastating floods and landslides, which cause significant damage to infrastructure, agriculture and the overall well-being of residents.
According to him, Shella village, situated along the downhill course of the Umiam river towards Bangladesh, is particularly affected by frequent flash floods and soil erosion.
Diengdoh added that thousands of acres of agricultural land have been washed away, properties destroyed and many families forced to shift their homes repeatedly due to the recurring natural disasters in the area.
He further noted that this has led to a decline in agricultural productivity, siltation of water bodies, environmental degradation and loss of livelihoods for families dependent on farming, thereby contributing to food insecurity.
He also mentioned that the Meghalaya State Disaster Management Plan recognises the state’s vulnerability to floods and landslides. “Therefore, it is imperative that proactive measures are taken to mitigate these risks and protect vulnerable communities like the people of Shella village from the frequent losses suffered due to floods and soil erosion,” he said.
Highlighting the severity of the problem, he stated that in a locality called Kalatek within Shella village, where many agricultural lands are located, about 19 hectares or 1,90,000 square metres of land have been washed away over the last 10 years, in addition to the destruction of houses and other properties due to flash floods and erosion.
Diengdoh lamented that the affected landowners and residents of Shella village have repeatedly raised this issue with the concerned authorities, but successive governments have failed to act and have turned a blind eye to their plight.
He then appealed to the minister to take immediate and necessary steps by constructing revetments, spurs, embankments and other protective infrastructure along the Umiam river within Shella village, from Pyrkan locality downstream up to Kalatek near the Indo-Bangladesh border, so as to safeguard the riverbanks and prevent further loss of land.
