Shillong, Feb 7: Meghalaya government has been asked to revisit its proposal for the rejuvenation of the two most polluted rivers in the state – Wah Umkhrah and Umshyrpi.

Happy to lay foundation for the Wah Umkhrah Riverfront Development Project.

In the past, Wah Umkhrah was a beautiful river touching many localities in the heart of the city but urbanization has led to the deterioration of the riverfront.

The Wah Umkhrah Riverfront Development… pic.twitter.com/m0VlRWunGb

— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) February 7, 2024

“In fact, we had put in a proposal earlier to clean up the Wahumkhrah and Umshyrpi. However, the government of India did not agree to (the cost of the project at that time). We were asked to revisit it, which we are in the process,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said after laying the foundation stone for the Wah Umkhrah Riverfront Development Project at a cost of Rs 39 crore, here on Wednesday.

“I am hopeful while the riverfront development is going on we will also be working towards having a project which would involve cleaning up the Wah Umkhrah and the Umshyrpi, which is very much needed,” he said.

Stating that developing and maintaining the river are two different things, Sangma said that the government is working closely with the Ministry of Water Resources.

“It is not that we are not realising the larger picture, we realise the water front development and the water itself also which need to be protected and kept clean and hence both the projects will go hand in hand and will ensure we are able to clean this up,” he said.

Terming the riverfront project important, Sangma said roughly there is an investment of close to Rs 39 crore for the project adding that tender will be floated within a week or ten days time.

“The idea is to really give a facelift and beautification to the city and apart from this, there will be many more interventions that we will be doing in the next couple of months and the programmes will continue.”

Asserting that the riverfront will be meaningless without the river, the chief minister urged the support, cooperation and participation of the community.

“Until and unless the community comes along and supports and works and ensures that we are not polluting the river at the source itself all the efforts will just go flat. The reason why we are calling you today is to share with you that we need your support and only if all of us work together and put our hearts and minds together can we actually achieve it,” he said.

“We will also get the support of the Government of India to rejuvenate these rivers and I am hoping all these things will fall into place one after another and we will find a clean Wahumkhrah and Umshyrpi in a much less polluted area,” the CM added.

Further, the CM also announced the government’s decision to have one day in a quarter or in every three months for organizing cleaning drives in different localities.

“We will do a cleaning drive in our respective localities where the government of Meghalaya and Urban affairs department will fund these different localities, if necessary give financial support to you to conduct these cleaning drives,” he said while adding “The message is that we are all together. While we clean it also creates awareness. We are hoping this one day affairs will create a kind of a movement among people and the government would like to take a lead on this but we need your support.”

He also directed the deputy commissioner to fix a date for the cleaning drive right after the Assembly session.