Pollution in Meghalaya’s Umngot River threatens livelihoods of hundreds of tourism workers

Guwahati: Pollution in the Umngot River, Asia’s clearest river and a key tourist attraction in Meghalaya, is creating an economic crisis for hundreds of families in Dawki, Shnongpdeng, and Darrang who rely on tourism for their livelihoods, according to The Shillong Times.

“Business has dropped by almost 80 percent,” said Alan West Kharkongor, president of the Meghalaya Rural Tourism Forum (MRTF). “Bookings are being cancelled constantly. Tourists come here for crystal-clear water, and if it’s polluted, they don’t visit.”

He added that after a few days of slight improvement, the river turned murky again, causing concern across the tourism areas of Shnongpdeng, Darrang, Dawki, and nearby circuits like Pynursla and Amlarem.

For years, local boatmen, guides, and homestay owners extended Meghalaya’s traditional six-month tourism season into nearly year-round income by promoting the Umngot’s clarity, but this progress is now at risk.

“October to April used to be off-season, but we turned it into peak season thanks to this river,” Kharkongor said. “If the water remains polluted, we stand to lose everything we’ve built.”

Kharkongor noted that the state government has deployed teams from the Meghalaya Pollution Control Board (MPSCB) to investigate.

He has also shared videos from Nongjrong to check if construction work on the Shillong-Dawki Road project is contributing to the pollution.

He explained that the road construction from Jaintia Hills to Nongjrong involves dumping red soil near a planned bridge, and a tributary in this area, which flows directly into the Umngot, could be affected.

He acknowledged that other factors might also be causing the pollution and urged authorities to investigate all possible sources.

Kharkongor emphasized that the situation requires a comprehensive response. “We urge the state government to address this from every angle because people are getting desperate,” he said.

He added that at this point in the year, locals should be earning income from tourism, making the river’s discolouration particularly damaging.

The government has conducted joint inspections in October and November involving MPSCB, NHIDCL engineers, and contractors.

Earlier, MPSCB had imposed a Rs 15 lakh penalty on NHIDCL for violations linked to the river’s pollution.

Kharkongor called for immediate and coordinated action to prevent further economic hardship and to safeguard the Umngot River’s reputation.