The expert committee established by the government of Meghalaya to restore and safeguard water bodies has decided to formulate a comprehensive action plan for restoration of polluted water-bodies in the State.
The committee headed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) & HoFF BK Lyngwa was constituted on June 23 in compliance with a High Court order to advise the state government on measures for restoration and protection of water-bodies in the state.
Talking to reporters, Lyngwa said, “The committee will now eventually come up with an action plan, now the action plan the components will be three components, one will be advisory in nature, second will be regulatory in nature, third will be participatory in nature, where we will be working with the communities and fourth one will be the restorative nature which will ofcourse require funding because of various interventions.”
After chairing the second meeting of the committee, Lyngwa said, “We are in the process of formulating the action plan and of course the question of funding will come later on , it will be identified on a need basis and as when situation demands. The action plan will be site specific to every river and will cover the whole state except those water-bodies in the wildlife protected areas, reserved forests and water-bodies dealt with by the State Wetland Authority and River Rejuvenation Committee and the fish ponds.”
Lyngwa also informed that the committee is in the process of asking the deputy commissioners for information about such water-bodies.
While the committee has been entrusted with the job to come up with an action plan, seven rivers which are Umkhrah, Umshyrpi, Kyrhokhla, Nonbah, Umtrew, Lukha, and Myntdu, rivers are dealt with by a separate Committee, he, mentioned that altogether; as many as 53 wetlands which are being taken care of by the Wetland Authority and over 60 rivers are also kept out of its purview.
“From East Jaintia Hills District 9, East Garo Hills district is 26, South Garo Hills District is 12, North Garo Hills 24, South West Garo Hills 12, West Garo Hills 25, now the other districts have also submitted information and they have clubbed in together with the fish ponds and that are giving the distorted figures. Other Districts are yet to submit information; we have given ten days time to submit the required information as per format.
“Therefore, we have given 10 days’ time for these districts to submit the required information as per format (given to them),” he said.
The chairman further informed that studies will also be carried out in two seasons – dry and rainy seasons – for collection of baseline data related to pollution and others. It is expected to be completed within 6 months.
When asked if the committee would also take up water bodies located in the coal belt districts of the state, Lyngwa said, “The government has already taken action through a pilot project which was successfully carried out in the Lukha river and now we are replicating that on a larger scale. However, if there are any rivers having acid mine drainage (AMD) issues which are not covered by the river rejuvenation committee, we will definitely take it up.”
Notably, the expert committee was constituted on June 23 this year in accordance with the High Court of Meghalaya PIL No.10 of 2019 in the Re-Cleanliness of Umium Lake Vs the State of Meghalaya.