Meghalaya's Pristine Umngot River Faces Environmental Crisis

In a growing environmental crisis, the famed Umngot River, once heralded for its crystal-clear waters, is now facing severe degradation, according to Meghalaya MP Ricky J Syngkon. Heavy construction activities under the Shillong-Tamabil road expansion project have left the river brown and lifeless.

Syngkon's letter to Union ministers highlights the dire state of the river, which impacts local tourism—a key economic driver for the area. The project, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, has allegedly overseen improper dumping of construction debris, violating environmental safeguards and affecting hundreds of local families.

He has called for a halt to construction activities affecting the river, alongside demanding environmental compensations and thorough impact assessments. The situation, if left unchecked, risks tarnishing the global reputation of what was once considered Asia's cleanest river.