By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 20: For the third consecutive year, administrative apathy and unchecked road construction have turned Jowai’s primary lifeline, the Myntdu River, into a drain of silt. The recurring pollution has left thousands of households facing a critical water shortage despite standing National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders to protect the river.
Friday’s rainfall triggered a massive flow of loose soil, sand, and construction debris from the ongoing Jowai bypass road project directly into the river. The resulting sludge has clogged the Public Health Engineering (Electrical) intake point at the Mupiah reservoir, the primary source of potable water for Jowai town.
This is not an isolated incident but a documented failure of the state to manage construction waste along the Dawki-Amlarem-Jowai stretch since 2022. While the District Magistrate has periodically issued prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to curb environmental degradation, residents say these measures exist only on paper.
The office of the Deputy Commissioner of West Jaintia Hills, the Jowai Municipal Board, the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC), and the Public Works Department have all faced criticism for failing to enforce safeguards.
The state government’s inaction persists despite a legal mandate from the NGT. Following a case filed by environmentalist Sajay Laloo, the Tribunal issued specific directives to prevent pollution and restore the river’s health. However, the continued siltation at Mupiah suggests these directives remain ignored.
For the residents of Jowai—from students at Kiang Nangbah College to daily wage earners—the contamination of the Myntdu is a direct threat to public health and daily survival. Local stakeholders have called on Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and local MLA Wailadmiki Shylla to move beyond temporary orders and implement permanent measures to protect the river from further destruction.
