Probe demanded into death of fishes in Ranikor river

SHILLONG, JAN 22: The Khasi Students’ Union today demanded the state government to institute an independent inquiry to probe into the abnormal change in colour of the Ranikor River that led to the death of thousands of fishes.

“The state government should immediately set up an independent inquiry to find the actual cause into the River changing its colour and also the death of aquatic lives,” KSU-Ranikor Circle president Marcony Thongni told journalists here.

According to him, the demand is being made after an inspection to the site was conducted by the members of the Union on January 19 and found that thousands of fishes are floating on the river.

The water of the Ranikor River located near the Indo-Bangladesh border in South West Khasi Hills District, about 140 km from here, has started changing its colour from blue to green since January 5.

It may be mentioned here that the incident was first reported way back in 2010 when several thousands of dead fishes were found floating on the river.

Thongni also said that if the state government fails to pay heed to the demand, the Union would be compelled to approach an international agency to investigate into the matter which has become an annual phenomenon.

Earlier on February last year, the deputy commissioner of South West Khasi Hills had asked the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) to conduct an inquiry into the matter, the report of which however is yet to be made public.

But in its report on the 2010-incident, the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board had cited coal mining as the main cause for the unnatural death of fishes in the Ranikor River.

However it may be noted that unscientific coal mining activities have been banned by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for the past four years in Meghalaya.

Taking this into consideration, the KSU leader said that the union cannot accept the board’s theory that the frequent change in colour of the Ranikor River was due to coal mining.

“Therefore, we want an independent inquiry because we have lost faith in the MSPCB,” he said while reiterating that the Union strongly suspects the cause is due to uranium drilling activities near the banks of the Ranikor River.

According to him, there are hundreds of uncovered pits that were abandoned after carrying out of uranium drilling activities in the thick forest at Porkut area in the district.

Last year in the Assembly’s budget session, the state government had agreed to conduct a House-visit to the 1500 boreholes drilled for exploratory mining by the UCIL in areas under South West Khasi Hills District.

“Unfortunately, despite assuring in the floor of the House, the government is to take any action on this regard as the pits are still left uncovered till today,” Thongni said.

The KSU-RC president said that the issue is also a matter of serious concern for neigbouring Bangladesh since the Ranikor River is also directly flowing to its territory.

“We are in touch with an agency from Bangladesh on the matter since it has been reported that they are facing similar problem there,” he said.

Asked, Thongni however said that the National Green Tribunal (NGT), a body which is concern with the protection of the environment, is yet to intervene into the matter.

Whether the Union would file a petition before the green court, he said they would wait for the government’s intervention before taking such decision to approach the NGT.

Meanwhile, the KSU also urged the district administration to issue prohibitory order to disallow people from selling dead fishes taken from the River to villages of other districts in the state.

“Necessary steps should be taken to prevent the sale of such fishes which could be harmful to the health being of the people in other districts,” Thongni added.

By Our Reporter