From Our Correspondent
MAWKYRWAT, Feb 1: Despite being contracted by the government to build a protective flood wall, a Guwahati-based construction firm, Bhagya Traders, has been served a 10-day ultimatum by villagers in Balat, South West Khasi Hills, for allegedly violating a previous official ban and rampantly extracting stones, thereby accelerating soil erosion and risking catastrophic flooding.
The company is constructing a protection wall along the Umngi riverbank to prevent soil erosion during floods and protect the villages.
During an inspection of some areas, the residents discovered that there had been rampant illegal extraction of stones, putting Balat and other villages at risk ahead of the monsoon season.
Koilan Khardewsaw, Rangbah Shnong of Balat, told media persons that about 170 houses, churches, schools and Anganwadi centres from Balat village alone had been washed away since 2007 due to soil erosion at Umngi river. It was caused by illegal extraction of stones.
Khardewsaw said that noting the destruction during every rainy season as a result of extraction of stones, authorities (Mawkyrwat civil sub-division at that time) had issued an order, prohibiting quarrying of sand and stones from the east of Umngi in order to prevent the river from causing more destruction.
The “widespread excavation” by Bhagya Traders by allegedly violating the order now threatens Balat and other villages, he said, adding that the Dorbar Shnong is extremely concerned.
Khardewsaw said following the inspection, the village authorities barred the company from quarrying stones from the areas.
The villagers requested the local MLA and government authorities to intervene in this matter so that Umngi can be prevented from destroying the entire area.
