The Meghalaya High Court has directed the State government to immediately issue an appropriate administrative order prohibiting any materials generated from construction of Jowai by-pass to be deposited in Myntdu River and that such materials should be taken away by truck or any other vehicle to a place designated by the administration and dumped there.
The court also said that up to a distance from Myntdu River, inward construction work should be regulated in terms of distance to be maintained from the bank of the river inwards and the volume of construction to be sanctioned by the government “in a fair, transparent and reasonable manner”.
The order was passed by the division bench of Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh today during hearing of the PIL which stated that construction of Jowai by-pass is being done indiscriminately resulting in unloading of debris into the river bed.
During today’s hearing, the High Court perused the joint inspection report dated October 28 filed by Amicus Curiae P Yobin. The court also perused the affidavit affirmed by the Executive Engineer, PWD (Roads), Jowai Central Division dated November 19.
The Amicus Curiae in his joint inspection report made a beautiful depiction of the importance of the Myntdu River flowing through the Jaintia region and thereafter into Bangladesh. The report stated that the river irrigates two fertile valleys in this state – Pynthor Nein and Pynthor Wah providing sustenance to about 40,000 people. The river is worshipped as a goddess and regarded as the Tawiar Takan (divine angel guardian) by the local people.
The Amicus Curiae pointed out that the dry season has started and the Myntdu river is likely to become drier in the near future and some emergent measures are required to facilitate the free flow of water in the river.
Additional Advocate General K Khan in his report as per the affidavit filed by the Executive Engineer, PWD (Roads), Jowai Central Division stated that the government has taken steps to prevent soil erosion and also to remove the debris generated by construction work and deposited in the river. It appears from the report that the process is time consuming.
The High Court directed the Amicus Curiae to file another inspection report by February 28, 2025. Further, the court directed the State government to also file a report indicating the action taken and also responding to the report of the Amicus Curiae by March 13, 2025.
“The Amicus Curiae shall be entitled to a further ad hoc remuneration equal to what was ordered by us on 29th October, 2024 to be paid by the State,” the High Court said while listing the PIL on March 24, 2025.
