Although the state government has ambitious plans to rejuvenate the rivers of Shillong, specifically the Wahumkhrah and Umshyrpi, there seems to be little in the way of progress, at least not according to what the eye can see.
The twin rivers and their various tributaries are under constant attack, which comes in different forms.
There is plastic and other solid particle pollution; effluent from homes, restaurants, workshops; some agricultural waste; encroachment – these have led to extreme deterioration in the health of the two rivers and have practically extinguished all aquatic life in them.
Recently the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills said the district administration will soon convene a meeting with stakeholders to draw up an action plan to address pollution in Shillong’s rivers. Hopefully this will be more than just a talking shop.
We already know the problems. Now we need solutions. Other cities many times Shillong’s size have successfully breathed back life into their rivers, such as London and Singapore. Ahmedabad is also in the process of cleaning up the Sabarmati River and has had some success already.
Ways need to be found to convince people not to directly throw their garbage into the rivers, eliminate public littering, clean up drains regularly before heavy rains wash the clogged up rubbish into the rivers, end the release of household waste into rivers, keep a check on restaurants and car workshops from empting oils and other waste into drains, stop houses and businesses from encroaching on rivers and streams and ensure that springs and other sources of water continue to flow.
The administration should also prioritise efforts that can have meaningful and demonstrable benefits. Operation Clean Up is a private effort to remove solid waste from Urkaliar, through which the Wahumkhrah flows. While noble, there seems to be no end for the volunteers to do because the root of the problem has not been addressed.
In cleaning up Shillong’s rivers, one must start at the source – all the little tributaries that have been neglected as the city has expanded. So many of them have been reduced to drains. If the government is serious about river rejuvenation, it has to start with these tributaries. Clean them up, keep them clean and work downstream from there.
People who live beside the rivers in Shillong largely avoid accepting responsibility for their current condition, instead preferring to blame those upstream. It is time for the solutions to be taken upstream too.
