Considered to be India’s cleanest river, Umngot is one of the most popular destinations in Meghalaya, attracting tourists from all over the country. A river with a glassy and calm demeanour, Umngot is the main source of livelihood of the farmers living on its banks. So, it is not a surprise that people from several villages of Meghalaya, whose sustenance is directly affected by the river, have been protesting against the building of a 210 MW hydroelectric project on the river. The protests have been going on for a week, but somehow managed to dodge the limelight, since the mainstream media had been too abashed to cover it.
Water scarcity and loss of the water ecosystem being one of the chief ecological concerns plaguing India right now, this is a gross misstep that needs to be stopped as soon as possible. Villagers, especially landowners, are also concerned because their lands will get submerged due to the project which will, in turn, lead to loss of cultivable land.
People living in the downstream areas are also concerned about the availability of water in the areas of Darang, Shnong Pdeng, and Dawki. Among the major concerns is the potential loss of tourist attractions. Construction of dams also causes seasonal drying up of rivers which will affect the daily life of people a lot. It is time we get our act together and stand in solidarity with the people of Meghalaya, so that the lush ecosystem of the state is preserved.
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