Deputy CM assures to soon take up Umngot power project issue before cabinet

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 24, 2021

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Tuesday assured to soon place the issue related to Umngot hydro power project before the Cabinet for its decision.

This was informed by a delegation of the Joint Action Committee against Umngot Hydro Electric Project after a meeting held with Tynsong.

The JAC has been demanding immediate scrapping of the proposed project as it will no doubt affect the people of many villages in the two districts of West Jaintia Hills and East Khasi Hills particularly those who depend their livelihood on agriculture and tourism.  

Speaking to media persons, JAC secretary Kitbok Ryngksai said that the delegation has sought the intervention of the Deputy Chief Minister on the status of the demand for scrapping the project.

“He (Tynsong) has assured us that the government will not allow the project to cause any hardships to the farmers who are having agricultural lands along the catchment areas of the Umngot River,” Ryngksai said.

He further informed that the Deputy Chief Minister had also assured to take up the issue with the Cabinet for discussion and decision on whether to scrap the project.

President of Ka Kynhun ki Nongrep, East Khasi Hills District Pynskhem Mukhim said if the project gets a go ahead from the government the farmers will be the worst sufferers from such a decision.

“We cannot imagine the destruction that a mega project of this magnitude can caused to the farmers and their cultivable lands,” he added.

Earlier, the delegation had met and requested the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to intervene by ensuring that the proposed construction of a dam over Umngot river is cancelled.

Chairman of the JAC and Doloi of Elaka Darang Pyrwa Lymba had alleged that the project will affect over 20-25 villages which are totally dependent on tourism in West Jaintia Hills district. According to him, these villages are generating revenue of not less than Rs 4 crore yearly from tourism.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Meghalaya Rural Tourism Forum, Alan West Kharkongor said that Umngot River is one of the three unique selling points (USP) of Meghalaya.

He said the river has been able to increase the footfall of tourists from across the country and abroad in recent years.  

“River Umngot, Living Root Bridges and Mawlynnong – the cleanest village in Asia – are the three USP of Meghalaya and hence it is only befitting for the state government to instead take serious steps to preserve this river which has become the identity of the state,” Kharkongor asserted.