The Meghalaya High Court has asked the State government to take steps to ensure that visitors and revelers at Umiam Lake are kept in check so that they do not throw plastic and other garbage into the lake.
“As far as the Umiam lake is concerned, the filth around the lake and the edges of the water is visible. Future efforts should be made to ensure that revelers are kept in check and appropriate disincentives are put in place to ensure that plastic, trash or other garbage are not willy nilly thrown into the waters,” the division bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh said today during hearing of a PIL on the matter.
Meanwhile, on the previous order of the High Court on June 3, the State government has filed an affidavit on June 24 stating that under a Central scheme, as many as 75 water-bodies in every district with a minimum pondage area of one acre would be rejuvenated, including the restoration of ecological and productive utility of such water-bodies.
“It is hoped that the project is taken up in right earnest and, for a start, all water-bodies are kept clean and people living around them made aware of the importance of keeping the water-bodies clean,” the High Court said.
The High Court also asked the State government to report on the progress of the scheme at the next hearing on July 26.
