Umngot River in Meghalaya: Environmental Concerns

The renowned Umngot river in Meghalaya, famous for its crystal-clear waters, is currently murky, causing concern among locals and tourists.

Tourist Impact

• The river flows through the West Jaintia Hills district and attracts tourists to locations like Dawki and Shnongpdeng.
• Post-monsoon, the river usually clears by mid-October, but remains opaque this year, disappointing tourists.

Suspected Causes

• The Shillong-Dawki corridor construction by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) is believed to be the main cause.
• Reports of soil and construction debris being dumped into the river, particularly near Umtyngar and Dawki.

Government and Environmental Response

• Ricky Syngkon, Shillong MP, has requested intervention from Union Transport and Environment Ministers.
• Meghalaya cabinet minister Lahkmen Rymbui indicated state government awareness and action on the issue.
• The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board has issued directives to NHIDCL to follow SOPs and remove waste from the river.

Current Construction Status

• The project entails upgrading an 81-km road from Shillong to Dawki into a two-lane highway.
• A critical 400-metre bridge at a height of 100 metres is under construction over the river.

An official from NHIDCL acknowledged the challenge of constructing the bridge and mentioned efforts to determine the exact source of the river's discolouration.