Meghalaya govt engages Brahmaputra River Board to protect Simsang River Basin

CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: In a significant push to preserve one of Garo Hills’ most vital lifelines, the Meghalaya Government is actively collaborating with the Brahmaputra River Board (BRB) to chart a sustainable future for the Simsang River Basin.

“We have already discussed this issue at the platform of the Brahmaputra River Board. They had a few queries, which the department will be responding to shortly,” informed Public Health Engineering (PHE) Minister Marcuise N. Marak.

The minister confirmed that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Simsang Basin is currently in the works and will soon be submitted to the BRB for consideration. Meanwhile, groundwork at the community level is already underway.

“I had a sensitization programme in Williamnagar regarding the protection of the Simsang River Basin and other river basins,” he noted, underlining the government’s commitment to public engagement.

In a bid to harmonize traditional practices with ecological priorities, the government is coordinating with local Nokmas—customary village heads—to curb jhum cultivation, a method long practised in the region but known for its environmental toll. Marak assured that viable alternative livelihood options will be introduced in consultation with local stakeholders.

He urged communities living along the river to support the government’s mission, particularly in reducing large-scale jhum cultivation. Alongside community outreach, the department is maintaining active dialogue with environmental activists to ensure the protection of the river’s fragile catchment zones.

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