By Our Special Correspondent
SHILLONG: Meghalaya Water Resources Department Minister AL Hek on Monday convened a meeting of the MLAs of Shillong city, the NGOs who have come together under the banner of the Save Wah Umkhrah Campaign, the Khasi Hills District Council and the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong (SKRS)
Addressing the audience, Mr Hek said the meeting is convened to build synergy between all stakeholders of the rivers which includes in the main the Dorbar Shnong and the KHDC besides the MLAs of Shillong city. But while the SKRS was represented by Mr HP Oflyn Dohling, the KHDC remained unrepresented.
Of the MLAs representing Greater Shillong area only four were present. They included Paul Lyngdoh, Ampareen Lyngdoh, Manas Chaudhuri and AL Hek himself. Prominent absentees were the Mawlai MLA FS Cajee, Mawkhar MLA Friday Lyngdoh Malki MLA BM Lanong and Laban MLA Sanbor Shullai and Ronnie V Lyngdoh.
While the Water Resources Department made a comprehensive, technical presentation on flood control over the Umkhrah River, ICARE President and also chairperson of the Save Wah Umkhrah Campaign Task Force, Toki Blah presented a graphic picture of the Umkhrah and its sources of pollution and the monumental task that lies before the stakeholders in trying to clean up the river.
Also present were representatives of the Brahmaputra Board who are supposed to collaborate with the State Water Resources Department which has allocated Rs 46.5 crore for the flood control project.
Former Urban Affairs Minister, Paul Lyngdoh pointed out at the thorny areas vis-à-vis implementation of the rule of law in Meghalaya. He said the bye-laws of Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) were flouted by the Dorbar who see MUDA as an alien.
“Any law is not a matter of option. It’s a pity that the Dorbar Shnong and MUDA are always at loggerheads. This results in a turf war. The MUDA bye-laws are for the benefit of the residents,” Paul Lyngdoh said, adding that cleaning the rivers of Shillong requires synergy between the Dorbar, MUDA and civil society. Mawprem MLA Manas Chaudhuri said the Umkhrah and Umshyrpi rivers are polluted due to direct discharge of latrines in the rivers. “I have tried to construct several low cost sanitary toilets in the constituency but there is a resistance from the Dorbar Shnong regarding some houses which are on so-called ‘disputed land.” How does a latrine affect the disputation which has to be decided by the courts? What is important is to prevent further pollution of the rivers through human defecation,” Chaudhuri remarked. Interestingly, HP Oflyn Dohling made a curious point. Exploding the myth about the powers of the Dorbar Shnong, Dohling said the Dorbar can at best make rules but has no punitive powers in case the residents break those rules. “We can take no action against residents who flout the Dorbar rules, nor can we excommunicate anyone,” Dohling added.
When pointed out if there is a scientific garbage management plan for Shillong city Urban Affairs Minister, Ampareen Lyngdoh said there is a plan for area within Municipal limits but for areas outside the Municipality there is a strong resistance to any kind of system. “We are, however, organising a conclave of all the Dorbar in Greater Shillong area to discuss waste management, water distribution system and sewerage.” Ampareen said adding that she is also concerned about the yearly floods on the Umkhrah which she said sucks up all the MLA’s resources. Suggestions to have a short-term, medium and long-term plan of action for the Umkhrah and Umshyrpi projects, starting with the Dorbar located alongside the rivers met with consensus. ICARE and the Save Umkhrah Task Force have been asked to submit a detailed project report of this action plan.