SHILLONG: The Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) has taken an initiative to clean up the Umkhrah river thanks to the funds received from the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority.
Informing this here on Thursday, Urban Affairs Minister, Hamlet Dohling said that it was the MBDA which earmarked Rs 16 lakh for cleaning up of the Umkhrah river in view of the North East Food Fest being held at Polo Ground.
“We were keen to restore the past glory of the Umkhrah river. But we could not do anything to clean it up due to non-availability of funds,” Hamlet told reporters.
He further said that the SMB was lucky to receive funds to clean the river as it has turn into a drainage. “The Government has taken this initiative to attract the visitors of the food fest. We have been able to take up this task with the support of the Deputy Commissioner and Meghalaya Basin Development Authority,” Dohling added.
According to him, the board has been able to take up the exercise of cleaning the river in a big way even with a small amount of fund and they can do a better job if more funds are provided.
“We will try our best to see that this initiative to clean up the river continues,” he stated.
Replying to a query, he said that the initiative to clean up the Umkhrah River is from the bridge at Demseiniong upto the bridge at Polo adding that they have set up waste trap at various points and they want to take up the cleaning of the river right from Umkaliar in the near future.
“We will also like to adopt similar initiative in cleaning of the Umshyrpi river,” he said.
When asked how will the Government ensure that this initiative is sustained, he said that the Government will not be able to do it alone without the support of various stakeholders and the people at large.
“We will need the support of the local Dorbar Shnong which are close to the Umkhrah River. I think that they should also get involve especially after seeing the small effort taken up by the Government,” Dohling said.
He maintained that people should stop dumping of garbage and release of waste into the river.
On encroachment along the bank of the river, he said that it will be difficult to comment since the issue is still pending in court.
