SHILLONG, JUNE 15: Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) will soon identify rivers across Khasi hills wherein noxious waste flows and declared it as ‘protected’ prohibiting killing of aquatic lives.
“We have decided to introduce the United Khasi-Jaintia Hills District Fisheries Act (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016 in the upcoming session of the council,” KHADC Chief Executive Member PN Syiem told newsmen after the executive committee meeting on Wednesday.
The bill will declare some of the rivers as ‘protected rivers’ so that it is free from pollution and the process to identifying such rivers within KHADC’s jurisdiction is already underway.
To give teeth to the bill punitive provisions will be inserted prohibiting flow of harmful waste into the rivers besides killing of fish using net and chemicals. This punitive section will be applicable to all including industries operating in the jurisdiction of the district council.
“A fine of Rs 50,000 will be imposed if anyone is found to be violating the act besides taking punitive action,” Syiem warned.
Syiem also informed that apart from the fine, the perpetrators will also have to bear all the expenses to clean the damage caused to the river till it is back to its normal form.
Syiem said KHADC expects hospitals and houses along the river to comply once the bill becomes a law. He said it will be the responsibility of everybody to have treatment plant before releasing liquid waste.-By Our Reporter
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