Shillong, Aug 16: The Meghalaya High Court has asked the state government to file its latest action taken report within four weeks in connection with the pollution of Umran River in Ri Bhoi district.
In an order issued here on Thursday, the Court said, “We have perused the documents annexed with the affidavit which suggest that various measures have been taken, various proposal have also been moved therefore, the matter is deferred for four weeks to enable the respondents to file the latest status of the action taken.â€
The order was following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by one Isrin Mawnai.
During the hearing, the additional affidavit filed by the chief secretary Y Tsering in compliance to the order issued on June 5 was submitted before the Court.
The chief secretary informed that the deputy commissioner of Ri Bhoi district has nominated one Extra Assistant Commissioner to monitor the discharge or disposed of waste/garbages/human and solid waste into Umran River, and to submit fortnightly the report to the DC.
The Deputy Commissioner has also constituted the District Monitoring Committee (DMC), which has held its meeting with special focus on improving the purity of water of Umran River.
The DMC is being headed by the DC as chairman, additional DC as member secretary, SP, Extra Assistant Commissioner, Executive Engineer, PHE, Executive Engineer, Water Resources, Divisional of Soil and Water Conservation, Divisional Forest Officer, (Wildlife) as members.
The affidavit also stated that the report of PHE department has pointed out that Umran River is one of the very important rivers in Ri Bhoi District being the lifeline for the people of entire Nongpoh Town and its adjoining twenty villages being the main source of water supply to the entire Nongpoh Town.
It also added that Nongpoh Town is getting drinking water supply from two Schemes viz., the Old Nongpoh Water Supply Scheme commissioned in 1978 and Nongpoh Urban Water Supply Scheme commissioned in 2010.
It also made clear that raw water is carried through separate pipelines to the two Treatment Plants at Nongpoh adding the same is being treated at the Rapid Sand Filtration Plant and distributed to different localities.
The Old Nongpoh Water Supply Scheme for which the Concept Paper had been submitted to the Government for consideration under the 15th Finance Award has not been so far responded.
On the other hand, it was also informed that Chief Engineer (WR) have submitted a proposal for construction of Check Dams to be funded under Asian Development Bank the matter is pending before the Joint Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya.
The affidavit also pointed out that the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board has taken measures to monitor the quality of water in Umran River while the Director Soil & Water Conservation has also prepared an action taken report along with the proposal for reducing turbidity of water in Umran River.