Water from the Myntdu River, long considered the guardian force of Jowai and its surrounding areas, is extremely muddy and unfit to drink from.
Analysis of water samples in areas such as Oorkhla and Mupiah has worried the concerned public, such as those in the Khooid Ya Ka Wah Myntdu (KYM) civic group.
The river, which flows into Bangladesh, is under severe danger of being buried by mountains of mud and stones at Treiongriang. This, activists say, is mainly due to the expansion of National Highway 40, which has seen gravel and soil carelessly dumped into the river as well as total disregard of the laws of the land.
“The water in the Mupiah dam is filthy and now this area (Treiongriang) is on the brink of disappearing,” KYM president Khroo Lamsalanki Pariat said. “Although the Deputy Commissioner of West Jaintia Hills has promulgated Section 144 of the CrPC, no action has been taken from his end. Furthermore, other government departments and agencies are silent on the matter.”
