The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) has issued a strong reprimand to a road project agency constructing the JICA-funded Shillong–Dawki highway for allegedly dumping construction debris into the Umngot River — one of India’s most pristine and ecologically sensitive water bodies.
The action follows multiple complaints and viral videos showing the river’s famously transparent waters turning visibly murky due to the disposal of earthwork waste. Locals, many of whom rely on tourism for their livelihood, expressed alarm that the pollution could damage the river’s fragile ecosystem and tarnish its reputation as one of the clearest rivers in the world.
The incident also drew political attention, with Meghalaya MLA Ricky Syngkon raising the issue with the Union Ministers for Road Transport and Environment. Dawki, where the Umngot flows, is a globally recognised tourist destination where the riverbed is visible several feet below the surface.
Following a field inspection, the MSPCB directed the project management unit — Mylliem — supervising the Shillong–Dawki road works, to halt all debris dumping immediately and ensure strict adherence to environmental safeguards. MSPCB Chairman M.R. Narmaia cited violations under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, ordering compliance with the board’s March 17 standard operating procedure and immediate measures to prevent further pollution.
Inspectors found large amounts of soil and waste disposed of without proper containment, causing erosion and sedimentation along the slopes. The report further noted that the lack of stabilisation structures and poor slope management increased the likelihood of landslides, particularly during monsoon rains.
Officials said the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), the agency executing the project, failed to maintain essential protective structures such as sandbags to prevent sediment flow into the river. The MSPCB has instructed the agency to conduct a detailed topography analysis and submit a corrective action plan within 15 days.
The Shillong–Dawki highway project, under construction since December 2021, has previously come under scrutiny for similar environmental lapses. The MSPCB has warned that further legal action will follow if the agency fails to comply with its latest directives.
