The District Magistrate of West Jaintia Hill has amended a prohibitory order passed in June to protect the Myntdu River and its tributaries from pollution, mining and quarrying.
The order has been passed under Section 163 of the BNSS. The DM noted that the quality of water in the Myntdu River and its tributaries has been severely affected and become muddy due to erosion and depositing of debris in the river’s catchment areas. Illegal mining and pollution has resulted in the contamination of the water supply of Jowai.
Therefore, the order bans sand mining and stone quarries all along the River Myntdu and on the river bed, washing of clothes and vehicles, dumping of spoils and waste material (solid/liquid) along the course of the river and waste/muck from road construction into the river. The order also specifies that dumping of waste, “including diapers and sanitary pads” is also banned.
