Shillong: East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal is pushing a new standard operating procedure to halt the flow of waste into the Umkaliar. This river feeds directly into the Umkhrah, acting as a major source of its pollution. The move comes after five years of pressure from Operation Clean-Up, a local group that began clearing the river in 2019.
Baranwal held a joint inspection on Tuesday to size up the damage. He brought together local headmen from Umpling, Nongmensong, and Lapalang alongside staff from the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board and the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency. The group walked the riverbanks to trace pollution sources. It was a stark reality check. The administration now wants a coordinated plan to fix the mess.
“The idea was for me to observe what is happening at Urkaliar, especially in terms of river pollution. Accordingly, it was decided that we will call a meeting at my level in my office, including all stakeholders, wherein an SOP will be drafted,” Baranwal told reporters. The proposed plan aims to assign specific tasks to different departments and keep fresh waste out of the water.
The strategy shifts focus from occasional cleaning drives to a permanent maintenance structure. Officials will hold a follow-up meeting to finalize who does what. The goal is simple: stop the filth before it kills the river.
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