Environmental Crisis: Meghalaya's Pristine Umngot River Turns Brown Due to Road Construction Project

The Umngot river, renowned for its crystal-clear waters at Dawki along the Indo-Bangladesh border, is facing a serious environmental crisis.

Shillong:

Meghalaya MP Ricky J Syngkon has formally appealed to the Central government requesting urgent action regarding what he termed "severe environmental degradation" of the Umngot River in West Jaintia Hills. The deterioration is allegedly resulting from construction activities associated with the Shillong-Tamabil road expansion project.

The MP highlighted that the river, famous for its pristine waters at Dawki along the Indo-Bangladesh border, has now discolored to brown.

In correspondence addressed to Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, the MP stated that the Umngot, previously celebrated as 'Asia's cleanest river,' has become muddy and devoid of life due to extensive dumping of soil and construction debris from ongoing hill-cutting operations along the 71-km NH-40 expansion project.

He noted that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is funding this project.

"The Umngot River, representing Meghalaya's pristine natural heritage and a significant tourism asset, has tragically turned muddy and lifeless this October, when its waters should typically be crystal clear," the MP remarked, noting that this situation has caused concern among local communities, tourism operators, and environmental organizations.

Syngkon alleged that substantial amounts of excavated materials have been deposited directly into the Umtyngar and Umngot river systems "under NHIDCL supervision," and that "no visible spoil bank management or silt containment measures" have been implemented, violating fundamental environmental safeguards.

He further mentioned that the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board has yet to take action despite evident violations, drawing comparisons with a similar case involving the Bhagirathi River in Uttarakhand, where the National Green Tribunal (NGT) levied a Rs 2 crore penalty for comparable offenses.

Emphasizing the socioeconomic impact, Syngkon explained that the Umngot River supports hundreds of families through tourism-related livelihoods including boating, homestays, and handicrafts.

Thousands of domestic and international tourists visit Dawki annually to experience the river's transparent waters, sustaining the livelihoods of boatmen, homestay owners, food suppliers, and transporters.

"Its global reputation for 'floating boats' has been severely compromised, with many tourists canceling their trips this season," he stated.

Syngkon also voiced concern regarding possible lapses in environmental oversight, questioning whether JICA's stringent environmental and social safeguards had been properly followed.

"It is essential to determine whether proper Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and monitoring reports were submitted and acted upon," he said.

In his letter, Syngkon urged the ministries to implement immediate measures, including suspending all hill-cutting and soil disposal activities affecting the Umngot and its tributaries, arranging a joint inspection by a high-level central team, and imposing environmental compensation against NHIDCL similar to the NGT's Bhagirathi case.

He also advocated for quarterly independent monitoring of roadwork impacts, revision of the project design to safeguard environmentally sensitive zones, and development of a river restoration and rehabilitation plan.

"The Umngot River is not simply a water body, it is a living symbol of Meghalaya's heritage and the spirit of sustainable coexistence," Syngkon wrote.

"If immediate remedial actions are not taken, we risk losing a globally renowned natural wonder," he cautioned. PTI JOP MNB