Umngot River, the cleanest and the most beautiful river in India is being converted to a Dam. To the Government these dams are a symbol of mega achievement but to the people who are displaced, these monsters mean emptiness of existence. The construction of this dam is not only against the people but also against the advice of ecologists, geologists and activists. Being a major tourist attraction, it is a major source of livelihood for the locals and it is also used to irrigate agricultural land in the villages upstream. The plan of the Government is to build a hydro-electric dam by the MeECL (Meghalaya Energy Cooperation Limited) in one of the most important rivers. Yes it’ll will generate more electricity but there is no telling that the project will succeed. Building a dam increases the possibility of floods in the area, ruining the agricultural land and the people who depend on it.
Above all, this project would affect the biodiversity and ecosystems of the forest nearby and the local fisheries will lose habitat. Being a major tourist spot and a source of irrigation, building a dam would make the lives of the locals harder, the effect would be felt far away in Dawki where the risk of the dam drying up during the winters would cost a great problem to their livelihoods. We should not allow the Government to turn India’s cleanest river to a catastrophe. So far the locals have been protesting successfully despite the pandemic, risking their lives. But the Government seems to be paying no heed. Let’s not forget that the Government is for and by the people. And we as the people will continue to fight against this dreadful decision and together we will stop it.
The Shillong Times 2021