SHILLONG, APR 16: The state government on Monday was asked to stop direct discharge of sewage from households into the two major rivers in the city – Umkhrah and Umshyrpi – to prevent further pollution of their water bodies.
This was expressed in the Assembly by senior Congress leader and MLA from Nongthymmai Charles Pyngrope during the question hour.
Stating that the pollution of the rivers is a matter of concern, Pyngrope said that stringent steps have to be taken to stop the direct discharge of sewage from households into the rivers as there is a way to do it.
In his reply, Urban Affairs Minister Hamletson Dohling assured that the government have taken note of the concern and will examine the matter.
He however informed that a total of 35 households in different locations including Macab Road, Demsieniong, Polo Demsieniong, were issued with notices for direct discharge of sewage and they have constructed sanitary toilets.
The Meghalaya Urban Development Authority had also conducted an on-spot inspection regarding the unauthorized construction all along the Umkhrah river with show cause notices to 18 persons directing them to dismantle the unauthorized construction immediately.
“The same was stayed by the Supreme Court and the matter is still pending adjudication in the apex court,” Dohling said.
He further informed that a total of 69 hotels, 19 guest houses, 37 restuarants, 14 automobile servicing centre and 11 hospitals are operating in Shillong with valid consent Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs).
Congress MLA Zenith Sangma while expressing concern that the rivers have been turned as dumping ground demanded that action should be taken against the polluters.
On this, the minister admitted that the practice of open dumping of garbage has been a challenge to the Shillong Municipal Board and said besides publishing of notices, a total of seven CCTVs have been installed to identify habitual violators.
To a query raised by the lone KHNAM MLA Adelbert Nongrum on the degree of pollution, Dohling said that the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) is monitoring the water quality of Umkhrah and Umshyrpi rivers under the National Water Monitoring Programme (NWMP) sponsored by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on monthly basis.
“Comparing the water quality of Umkhrah with designated best use notified by CPCB, the river water falls under ‘E’ category indicating that the river water is fit only for irrigation, industrial cooling and controlled waste disposal,” he said.
On the suggestion made by NCP MLA Saleng A Sangma on the need to come up with a programme to create awareness among the people, the minister assured that the proposal will be examined by the department.
By Our Reporter
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