A contractor accused for illegal extraction of stones along the banks of the Myntdu River in West Jaiñtia Hills has donated Rs 5 lakh towards restoration of the river.
Friday Hinge had engaged an excavator and trucks to illegally mine and transport stones from the river towards Lad Mustem on July 16. Extraction of boulders and stones from the river has been banned by the National Green Tribunal and the district administration has imposed restrictions to save the river from the onslaught of human activities.
The illegal act was caught red handed on camera by the Khooid Ya Ka Wah Myntdu (KYM), an organisation rooting for clean environment and police.
To make up to the destruction caused to the river, Hinge made a donation towards the West Jaiñtia District Environment Protection & Restoration Fund (Myntdu).
An agreement letter proposing the donation was handed by KYM President Khroo L Pariat to Additional Deputy Commissioner M. Challam at a meeting held in Jowai today.
Pariat told reporters that the donated amount under the fund will be towards rejuvenation of Myntdu. He informed that the Dhar Construction Company, that is currently executing the construction of a road from Treïongriang to Muphlang, has pledged towards restoration of the environment and make donations.
The meeting was convened by the district administration with the Synjuk ki Waheh Shnong Jowai, Synjuk ki Waheh Shnong Ri Jaiñtia, Jaiñtia Students Movement, Jaiñtia Students Union, officials of PHE, municipal board, social forestry, district urban planned and the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board to discuss on ways to preserve and protect the ailing river, which is long considered the guardian force of Jowai and its surrounding areas.
