A company involved in constructing a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded road from Shillong to Dawki, near the India–Bangladesh border, has been accused of dumping construction and demolition waste into tributaries of the Umngot river, officials confirmed on Sunday.
The revelation came after locals — many of whom rely on tourism for their livelihood — shared videos showing the river’s once crystal-clear waters turning visibly murky. The situation prompted the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) to conduct an inspection, and Shillong MP Ricky Syngkon also raised the matter with Union ministers for Road Transport and Environment, officials said.
The Umngot river, flowing through Dawki, has long been celebrated for its glass-like surface and pristine waters so clear that the riverbed sand could be seen several feet below. Thousands of tourists visit Dawki every year to experience boating on what has often been described as one of India’s cleanest natural water bodies.
Following the inspection, the MSPCB issued directions to the Project Management Unit-Mylliem, responsible for the execution of the Shillong–Dawki road project, ordering the immediate removal of the dumped waste and the enforcement of strict environmental safeguards.
In an official notice issued on Friday, MSPCB chairman R Nanamalai invoked powers under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The directive requires adherence to the standard operating procedure notified on 17 March and prohibits further dumping near the river.
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The inspection report states that large quantities of soil and construction debris generated from earthwork and excavation had been discarded without any containment or stabilisation measures. This allowed loose material to slide down towards the Umngot river. Officials also noted that filling works being carried out by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) near the Pynursla–Dawki bridge lacked retaining structures such as sandbags, increasing the risk of erosion and sedimentation.
“The filled portion near the bridge appears unstable and has the potential to cause additional landslides, especially during rainfall,” the MSPCB said in its report.
The pollution board has collected water samples for laboratory testing and has directed contractors to obtain the necessary consent to establish and operate within 15 days. The project authorities were also reminded to comply with the Meghalaya Stone Crusher Order of 23 December 2021, including the legal sourcing of boulders.
The Project Management Unit-Mylliem has been asked to submit an action-taken report at the earliest, officials added.
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