NONGPOH:
In a bid to make Umiam Lake pollution free, a six-day cleaning drive is being conducted on the bank of the water body that will conclude on July 30.
The Umiam coastline surrounding Mawdun, Union Christian College campus, Umniuh, Umsaw, Umbir, and Mawlyndep village are the areas that are being cleaned as part of the cleaning drive. So far, the drive has witnessed massive voluntary participation of local authorities, village organisations, institutions from different villages surrounding the lake.
Notably, all the solid waste collected during the drive are being loaded in pick-up trucks and disposed of at a designated dumping yard in Mawiong.
Organised by Kiew Shaphrang Village Organisation (VO), Mawlyndep, Ri Bhoi District, in collaboration with Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) and Zoology Department of Union Christian College, the drive has deployed semi-skilled labourers, including boat operators, to execute the campaign.
Joybynta Syiemiong, president, Kiew Shaphrang VO, in her address thanked everyone, for making the campaign a success. Stevenson Kharkrang, headman of Dorbar Shnong, Umiam, in his address mentioned that the lake is primarily being polluted from upstream areas such as Shillong conglomerate, and urged all citizens of Shillong to reduce their trash at home and save the lake. This cleaning drive is sponsored by MBDA.