Seeking the intervention of Chief Minister Mukul Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister in charge soil and water conservation Rowell Lyngdoh in this regard, Bordoloi said that mitigation process can be initiated by enacting a law, if necessary, and taking action to stop any further stripping of vegetative cover, rock quarrying, earth-cutting, avoidable construction and ” all such activities that causes land to get destabilized leading to generation of loose soil in the hills of Meghalaya adjoining Guwahati”.
He also said that the Government can bring all exposed areas in Meghalaya, upstream of Guwahati under complete vegetative cover and proper drainage network along with silt traps particularly during rainy season can be set up so that runoff, sheet erosion and silt transport are checked to a great extent.
Bordoloi also suggested the need to undertake proper land use planning in the Meghalaya hills to restrict further damage to the hills and instructing people to desist from all practices that causes movement of silt downstream.
Bordoloi recently had a meeting with Rowell Lyngdoh, along with his officers of concerned departments (water resource, soil conservation and PWD to start the mitigation process.
According to Bordoloi, encroachment, deforestation and earth cutting in the hills around Guwahati, including the hills of Meghalaya from Rani to Khanapara have resulted in rapid shrinkage of wetland in the face of mounting anthropogenic pressure, and have been a major cause of water-logging in Guwahati.
“Eroded soil coming down from the hills in Meghalaya has been a major cause of concern as regards to the flooding and sediment loads in the drainage systems of Guwahati city. The huge sediment load has significantly contributed to the flooding and siltation problem in Guwahati city, Bordoloi added.
He said that illegal mining and housing should be stopped immediately on the Meghalaya hills to stop any further damage to the stability of the slopes of West Khasi Hills and Ribhoi districts of Meghalaya.
“Unless protective measures are taken at the Meghalaya hills along the course of the Basistha-Bahini, (Umtenga or Umriang) piecemeal measures in the foothill areas are not going to solve the problem. Of course the complete solution will need a great deal of innovation with scientific investigation, planning, design and implementation, but primary requirement is prevention of sediment generation in the hills of both Assam and Meghalaya accompanied by restoration of vegetation cover in all exposed areas”, Bordoloi said.
He added that owing to the destruction of vegetation and a spurt in human activities in Mylliem reserve forest of Meghalaya, the velocity of the water flow has also increased over the years, leading to bank erosion, bank cutting and scouring in many areas.
Source: The Shillong Times
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