The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) will allocate Rs 1 crore to the protection of rivers in urban areas, Chief Executive Member Titosstarwell Chyne today informed.
Informing that the existing environment committee comprising of members from the state pollution control board, municipal board and district council is now discussing the status of the River Wahumkhrah and River Umiam, he said, “The council will also earmark an amount of Rs 1 crore from the central health and sanitation scheme that will be used as per the suggestion of the environment committee for the protection of the rivers in the urban areas.”
With regards to the protection of the rivers in rural areas, he said that the building by-laws of the council will ensure that rivers are protected and restrict the pollution, construction of houses and buildings near riverbanks.
“We will also seek the Dorbar Shnongs’ cooperation and issue a notification to keep signboards, etc to protect the catchment and our river systems,” he said, adding that once the amendment to the Sixth Schedule takes place there will be lots of change in the functioning of the KHADC, just like there will be in the village dorbar.
The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP) had recently called on the KHADC to formulate laws for the protection of rivers under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
In a letter to the CEM, HSPDP general secretary Panborlang L Ryntathiang mentioned the pollution of the Umkhen and Umkhrah rivers and said the district council should address these issues as empowered by the Constitution.
