Shillong: Locals and officials scrubbed the Umiam Reservoir clean on October 2. They targeted the Mawlyndep and Umniuh stretches. Trash is piling up. Government agencies and community members partnered for the effort to save the water. The Office of the Superintendent of Fisheries in Ri-Bhoi led the charge alongside the Umsning C&RD Block.
The event fell under the Swachhata Hi Seva 2026 banner. The theme was Ek Din, Ek Ghanta, Ek Saath. Organizers tied the work to the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and the Integrated Cage Culture component of the Meghalaya State Aquaculture Mission 2.0. Volunteers from Mawlyndep and Umniuh Dorbar Shnongs, Seng Samla, and the Umsawlum Cluster Level Federation showed up. Students from Union Christian College and trainees from Ka Rympei Arupe Jesuit Novitiate in Mawshohroh joined them.
Viral images forced the action. Videos showed massive amounts of waste floating in the reservoir. Streams carry most of this trash directly into the water. Organizers educated participants on the dangers of eutrophication during the event. They stressed the need for better waste management to keep the ecosystem alive. One participant noted the goal is ensuring sustainable reservoir management to maintain water quality. The state depends on Umiam for its water supply. Everyone involved agreed that community effort remains the only way to stop the pollution.
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