Shillong, Nov 12: A group in East Garo Hills district has lodged a complaint with the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) against a road construction company and the NHIDCL for dumping of construction waste and earth materials at the Norek stream.
According to the United A∙chik Socio Economic Justice Forum the Premsons Private Limited and NHIDCL involved in the construction of the NH-127B have failed to follow environmental guidelines by indiscriminately dumping huge quantities of earth, mud, and construction debris into the stream, located near the project alignment.
President of the forum, Dimchang Dwarka M Sangma said that the Norek stream serves as the primary source of water for hundreds of households residing in and around the nearby villages and dumping of construction debris amounts to environmental negligence and public nuisance, severely affecting the health, livelihood, and safety of the local inhabitants.
He said the stream is directly connected to the Simsang River, which is one of the main rivers of the Garo Hills region. Due to the uncontrolled and unlawful dumping of soil and waste materials into the stream, the river has also started showing visible signs of siltation, pollution, and ecological disturbance, he added.
Sangma said the company and the NHIDCL violated the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986, and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and sought legal and penal action.
“Despite repeated verbal complaints from local residents and public organisations the company continues its unscientific and environmentally hazardous practices without implementing any proper waste disposal or erosion control measures, thereby causing irreversible damage to the ecosystem,” Sangma said.
The forum has urged the pollution board to conduct an site inspection to assess the extent of environmental damage and to direct the company to stop all forms of dumping and pollution-causing activities in and around Norek stream and to undertake immediate restoration and cleaning measures to revive the affected portions of the stream and the Simsang.
