Shillong, Feb 8: The National Green Tribunal (Principal bench ) has ordered that a joint committee be formed to verify the status of the Myntdu River in West Jaintia Hills following heavy pollution during roadworks in 2024.
The case was brought by Khroo Lamsalanki Pariat, who has been campaigning to keep the Myntdu River, an important water source for Jowai and the rest of West Jaintia Hills, clean.
In 2024 he accused the Dhar Construction Company, who were the contractors, and the state government for dumping spoil from the Dawki-Amlarem-Jowai Road project into the Myntdu River, which polluted it, filled the Mupiah reservoir with mud and hit the livelihoods of farmers and others in the process.
The joint committee will comprise representatives of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, Meghalaya’s Chief Secretary, representative of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, representative of the Water Resources Department, Public Works Department and Jowai Municipal Board.
They will undertake requisite visits to the sites in question, look into the grievances of the applicant, associate the applicant and representative of the concerned project proponents, verify the factual position and take/suggest appropriate remedial action by following due course of law and submit its report with requisite details regarding action already taken and action to be taken with timelines for execution/completion and compliance status in respect of compliance with the environmental norms and contractual obligations by PWD and executing agencies.
The case will next be heard on March 11.
