Meghalaya Forest & Environment issued guidelines for preservation of Umiam Lake
The Meghalaya Forest & Environment Department has issued an official order containing a set of guidelines for preservation of Umiam Lake in line of the High Court of Meghalaya ruling passed on 19th February, 2024 in the matter In Re Cleanliness of Umiam Lake Vrs State of Meghalaya for necessary compliance.
The guidelines have been issued by Commissioner & Secretary, Meghalaya Forest & Environment Department Pravin Bakshi IAS vide office order no. FOR/CC/29/2019/Pt-1/7. Dated Shillong the 5th March, 2024.
According to the office order, “if any public property is identified/retrieved on the orders/intervention of the High Court, a permanent steel display board with bar code & case number must he displayed at vantage points at the said site.”
Such identified places should be displayed at all relevant Government websites, so as to prevent others to deal with the public property.
Hawking and parking must not be allowed at such regained public sites except in accordance with law
No permission should be given to use the site as Auto / Taxi stand, causing hindrance to the general public or traffic at large except authorised
No one has right to put up temporary or permanent structures either in the site or on pavements footpaths, if any, without any permission of the concerned authorities. If there is any unauthorized construction thereon, the authorities must take a rapid action to dismantle the same.
If there is any failure on the part of the Officials, who are responsible to follow the above guidelines, departmental action can be initiated against them and their dereliction can be entered in their Service Registers so as to deprive their promotion
The directions may be strictly enforced and followed and brought to the notice for all subordinate oficials and organizations/Boards/Agencies, etc for necessary strict compliance.
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Good step.
A “Systems Study ” perhaps also need to be undertaken.
The watersheds of all streams and rivers that empty into the lake need to be analysed for the quality of fluid (not water) discharge.
Monitoring stations could also be considered for installation in key areas and confluences.
Pilot interventions also need to be carried; for outcomes to be understood and fine tuned for Long Term Strategies.
Sewage treatment plants have to be brought in too; but which do not get over-burdened by the water that is excessive during monsoons.Dedicated sewage line network will have to be elaborately laid out (?).