SHILLONG, July 11: A multi-disciplinary panel of experts, including folklorists, environmental engineers, and constitutional members, gathered this week at Synod College, Shillong, to address the “paradox” of the Umkhrah river, warning that the waterway has transitioned from a sacred life-source to a biological dead zone. The programme was initiated by the Meghalaya Society for Culture & Folklore in collaboration with Synod College.
The discussion, framed through the lenses of “Memory, Meaning, and Management,” painted a stark picture of a river where dissolved oxygen levels have plummeted to “nil,” effectively ending all aquatic life.
The discussion was moderated by Dr Ellereen Diengdoh, teacher, St Mary’s College, who opened with a nostalgic look at the river’s historical identity and questioned especially those in Government how they could turn a blind eye to the pathetic state of the river.
Author and academic Prof Esther Syiem described the Umkhrah not as a mere geographical feature, but as a “literary landscape”. She recounted her grandmother’s memories of walking barefoot across the river when it iced over in winter—a phenomenon now entirely absent due to urbanisation and climate shifts. Syiem warned that the river is the “sub-consciousness” of the community; to lose it is to lose the collective shadow of the people.
NEHU professor and world-renowned folklorist Desmond L Kharmawphlang expanded on this, describing the river as a “living participant” and a “moral authority” in the Khasi worldview. He argued that the current degradation is a form of “cultural biocide,” noting that the Khasi language itself—rich in onomatopoeia—is technically incomplete without the sound of the river. Kharmawphlang lamented that the once “symbiotic relationship” between the people and the water has become “parasitic”.
Fecal matter and total apathy
Editor of The Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim provided a grim reality check, detailing the physical state of the tributaries. During recent cleaning drives organised by Operation Clean-Up, volunteers recovered liquor bottles, medical waste, and even household furniture. “We are building sanctuaries for ourselves and a sewer for our children,” she said, highlighting a societal “OCD” where Khasi homes are obsessively clean while public waterways are treated as open toilets.
The veteran journalist directed heavy criticism toward institutional silence, specifically questioning why local churches and academics remain mute as boulders and sand are sold off and the river is “murdered” by greed.
Scientific data: A river on the brink
Wanshanbor R Kharkrang, Chief Environmental Engineer (CEE) at the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), confirmed the catastrophic data. Since monitoring began in the 1990s, the primary pollutant has been identified as untreated household sewage (fecal matter) flowing directly into the river. Currently, the Umkhrah is ranked as the 45th most polluted river in India.
Kharkrang argued that while laboratory reports and fines are issued, the “sense of belonging” is missing. He noted that modern engineering often ignores traditional wisdom, with beautiful houses being built directly over drains without proper septic infrastructure.
The legal framework and implementation gaps
Representing the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), Executive Member Matthew Kenneth Makdoh defended the Council’s legislative efforts, outlining four critical laws aimed at restoration:
The Solid Waste Management Act 2022, which empowers the Dorbar Shnong to impose fines.
The Fisheries Amendment Act 2023, which makes discharging sewage into the river a criminal offense punishable by up to six months in prison.
The Elaka Administration Amendment Act 2023 and the Village and Town Development Act 2021, aimed at institutional strengthening of local communities.
However, Makdoh admitted a significant financial roadblock: funds from the 15th and 16th Finance Commissions are currently funnelled through the State’s Urban Affairs Department rather than the KHADC, leaving local headmen without the resources to implement these laws. “The tools are not missing,” Latham stated. “What was missing is consistency and utilising them”.
A call for social accountability
The panel concluded with a plea to reform the educational curriculum through the New Education Policy (NEP) to include social awareness and environmental accountability. The moderator warned the audience that while citizens may scrub their floors clean at home, they will soon no longer recognize themselves in the “murky waters” of their own river.
The experts collectively called for an immediate end to the “subscription fee” model of pollution, where fines act as a licence to continue environmental degradation, and urged a return to the traditional ethic of stewardship.
Students of the English department recited poems by Victor G Bareh and Esther Syiem that rued the slow but sure violations happening on the Umkhrah River and its tributaries.
