Lukha contamination
SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Water Resources, Rowell Lyngdoh, has blamed unscientific mining in the State for the pollution of Lukha river in East Jaintia Hills district.
Speaking to media persons here recently, Lyngdoh pointed out that waste from mining areas flow to Lukha, polluting it in the process.
The Deputy Chief Minister also stressed on the need to regulate mining in the State.
In November last year, thousands of dead fishes were found floated on the river water between Sakhri to Borsora villages, a distance of 25 kilometres, in Jaintia Hills, even as the water body turned blue once again.
This change of colour and death of fishes in the Lukha has become an annual phenomenon prevalent between November and February. The change in colour was first visible during January 2007.
The State Pollution Control Board is examining the cause of the death of fishes in the Lukha river, Lyngdoh said, adding that the Water Resources department is awaiting the report to decide on the actions to be taken in this regard.
Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma has, on several occasions, stressed on the need to regulate mining in the State to ensure protection of the environment. Earlier, several NGOs had demanded an independent inquiry into the contamination of the river. There were also demands to appoint experts from NEHU and RGIIM, Shillong to enquire into the matter.
The contamination of the river has affected several villages including Brishyrnot, Sakhri, Tongseng Narpuh, Sunapur (Sunapyrdi), Shymphlong and others.
