Meghalaya HC asks Govt to arrest degradation of water bodies

SHILLONG, APR 7: The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday asked the state government to come up with long-term and short-term measures to arrest the degradation of the water bodies and to rejuvenate them.

Hearing a PIL, a bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee has asserted that several of the rivers, particularly those passing through Shillong city or the larger towns like Nongstoin, require to be rejuvenated.

“The natural system of flow should be restored upon scientific advice being obtained in such regard. While citizens along the rivers must have access to the water, there should be awareness campaigns to indicate the nature of permissible use and what other activities would not be permitted,” the court said.

“In particular, the measures should be geared to preserve, protect and rejuvenate plants and animals that live or thrive in water. Again, both long-term and short-term measures have to be devised and sincerely implemented,” it added.

The court further directed the state to issue appropriate guidelines in such regard, first to arrest the further degradation of the water-bodies, then to preserve the same and ultimately to rejuvenate or revive them.

Endorsing the suggestion of the Amicus Curiae, the court said at major tourist spots, boards should be put up to indicate the “do’s” and “don’ts”, with local personnel engaged to ensure adherence thereto and helplines indicated for any complaints.

It is best that the locals be involved in the process as that would result in a personal touch and the affinity to protect and preserve the immediate environment, it said while asking the state to consider some form of honorarium or reward for the personnel engaged for such purpose.

In the light of increasing footfall of tourists in the state, the court asked the state to indicate the general  “do’s” and “don’ts”, levels or distances beyond which tourists may not be permitted should be earmarked, a safe distance be maintained between the edge of the water-bodies and vehicular traffic, including parking; and the restriction of certain material like plastics and tetrapacks should be indicated.

If it appeals to the State, plastics and tetrapack-free zones around the water-bodies should be demarcated, maintained and tourists and local residents be required to adhere thereto, it also asserted.

Meanwhile, the court has also directed the state government to take appropriate steps to close the landfill site at Marten.

“In the meantime, appropriate steps should be taken to close the landfill site at Marten, if it has reached the saturation point, upon any alternative site being identified for immediate use,” it said.

The next hearing will be held on June 3.

By Our Reporter