In compliance with the order passed by the Meghalaya High Court on June 3 in the matter of PIL No.10/2019, the State government has constituted an expert committee to advise the government on measures to be taken for restoration and protection of water-bodies in the State.
The committee comprises of six experts – Nababrata Bhattacharjee (Chairman of State Expert Appraisal Committee, Meghalaya), Dakhina Rabha (Scientist B, Central Ground Water Board, Shillong), Prof. Arup Kumar Sarma (Civil Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati), Anand Malligavad (Lake Conservationist, Bengaluru), Larsing Sawyan (Founding Chairman, Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum), Zobra Z. Laloo Kharkolni (Co-Founder of Campfire Trails Shillong and Co-author of ‘Rivers of Meghalaya’).
The Regional Director, Central Pollution Control Board, Shillong and Member Secretary, Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, are members of the committee. The Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) is the member secretary.
The terms of reference of the committee is to advise the State government on measures to be taken for restoration and conservation and protection of water bodies in the State, to advise the State government on long term and short term measures for restoration and protection of water bodies in the State, to advise government on latest technology and methods used for cleaning and rejuvenation of water bodies and to advise the government in preparing the action plan for restoration of water bodies in the State.
Meanwhile, in pursuance of the National Green Tribunal order passed on April 28 this year regarding the pollution of rivers in Shillong city, the State government has constituted a joint committee of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPB) to look into the alleged release of untreated sewage into Umshyrpi River near Shillong Law College and Wah Umkhrah at Demthring and release of effluents in Lukha River.
The joint committee will look into the alleged violations and take further action in accordance with law. It will also interact with concerned authorities and stakeholders. The committee will also consider the Action Plan prepared by the River Rejuvenation Committee (RRC) for rejuvenation of Umkhrah and Umshyrpi rivers and take further action in accordance with the law.
The committee will furnish its action taken report to the NGT within two. Further, The MSPCB will be the nodal agency for compliance of the NGT order.
