Nongpoh, September 28, 2026: Residents of Nongmahir village in Ri-Bhoi district have raised concerns over the poor condition of village roads, alleging a lack of adequate government assistance despite the area’s growing popularity as a tourist destination around Umiam Lake.
The villagers recently came together for a community cleanliness drive, during which they contributed money to purchase cement, sand and stones to repair damaged stretches of the village road. The initiative was led by the village headman and the executive committee of the Dorbar Shnong, with residents participating in cleaning the roadside areas and improving the village’s surroundings.
Nongmahir is known for its scenic surroundings near Umiam Lake, attracting visitors who come to enjoy the natural beauty of the area, spend time with family and friends, and participate in boating activities. According to local residents, tourism has also become an important source of livelihood for several families in the village.
However, villagers said the poor condition of the approach road and internal village roads continued to cause difficulties for residents and visitors, particularly during medical emergencies.
Despite reportedly bringing the matter to the attention of the authorities through their local MLA, residents claimed that they had received little assistance for road maintenance and were repeatedly compelled to rely on their own contributions.
Dr David Lyngdoh, chairman of the Umsning Peoples Front, attended the community initiative and expressed concern over the continuing difficulties faced by rural communities in maintaining their roads.
In his address, Lyngdoh urged residents to protect and maintain the natural beauty of their village, stating that the scenic surroundings and land resources were valuable assets that could support tourism and local livelihoods.
He also encouraged residents to take proper care of any assistance received from the government to ensure that development initiatives provided lasting benefits to the community.
Speaking to the media, Nongmahir village secretary P. Thangkiew said residents had been organising similar community initiatives for more than 10 years to maintain village roads and clean the surrounding areas because of the lack of adequate financial assistance.
He said that despite repeated representations to the authorities through the local MLA, the villagers continued to contribute from their limited resources to carry out essential maintenance work.
Thangkiew added that tourism in Nongmahir had been growing, with increasing numbers of visitors arriving to enjoy the area’s natural attractions. However, he said better road infrastructure and government support were necessary to improve accessibility and ensure that residents could benefit more from the growth in tourism.
The villagers hope that the authorities will take note of their concerns and extend assistance to improve road connectivity and infrastructure in Nongmahir, a village whose natural beauty continues to attract visitors to Ri-Bhoi district.
