Tourism promoters today came out strongly against the proposed 210 MW Umngot hydroelectric project, stating that it will affect tourism activities along this river.
According to Alan West, president of Meghalaya Rural Tourism Forum, prior to 2013 tourism season in Meghalaya was restricted to only six months – April to September, while the rest six months was considered as “off season”, because there were no tourists coming.
“Interestingly after the year 2013-14, the scenario totally changed. We started to get tourists even in the off seasons. The reason being the discovery of this river Umngot and activities along this river,” West said after accompanying a delegation of traditional heads and stakeholders under the Joint Action Committee (JAC) Umngot.
The JAC met Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong and urged him to take up with the government for scrapping of the hydel project.
He said that activities for tourists like keeping of camp sites, boating on the Umngot river were introduced.
“It is very clear that this river has attracted tourists from all over the country as well as from abroad,” the tourism promoter said.
West also said that the three strong assets of the state in terms of tourism are – Living root bridges, discover of Mawlynnong as the cleanest village in Asia and the discovery of the clear water of Umngot.
“So we are here to support the JAC in the sense that we do not want to lose any assets of our state. By touching Umngot, I think it is too risky and it is the only river that is being protected by the villages also,” he added.
According to West, ten years back the district council used to hire the river and lease it to individuals for activities like netting, destroying the river but in the last seven years the district council has respected the villagers by not leasing the river – Umngot to any individual.
“So I think that it is a clear message that the State government should respect this river as one of the only river that is very alive,” West added.
They have also urged the Deputy Chief Minister to take this matter seriously since it is not only the concern of the tourism stakeholders of Darrang, Shnongpdeng Dawki and Umsyiem, but it is also the concern of the tourism sector in the entire State.
Appealing to the government to consider scrapping the project, West said that Umngot river is an important USP of tourism in the State.
