FROM OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Shillong, Jan 19: Even after nearly five years of the launching of Clean Wah Umkhrah Mission, a scheme taken up by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) with an estimated amount of Rs one crore, the water quality of the river, that flows from the heart of Shillong city, has not improved.
No phenomel change was noticed when this correspondent moved along the banks of the river Umkhrah right from Demseiniong to Mawlai.
The foundation stone of the scheme was laid at Wahingdoh in 2012.
Taking to The Sentinel a resident pointed out the dirty waters filled with all sorts of wastes that flows from the upstream.
Sources said the village durbars are supposed to play a vital role in preventing further pollution of the river. These village durbars in the heart of the city are learnt to have received certain amount of fund to help in preventing contamition of River Umkhrah.
Sources said the dorbar shnongs were asked to construct proper draige systems and install dustbins to avoid direct dumping of solid waste and garbage into the Wah Umkhrah.
At least Rs 22, 19, 602 was spent by the KHADC in the implementation of the first and second phase of the cleaning drive in the first 10 months.
The utilization of the rest of the money is not known as residents along the long stretch of the river continues with the old practice of disposing garbage in the water body that was once a pride of Shillong.