• Shillong's rivers are teeming with poison, says Water Quality Index

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    Shillong's rivers are teeming with poison, says Water Quality Index
    Digital Desk: According to the most recent water quality index, Shillong's rivers are at risk of crumpling. This report from water quality index gives major concerns for the government towards water pollution.


    The pH of the Umshyrpi near Shillong Law College is 7.1, with 0.7 mg of dissolved oxygen and 35.0 mg of biological oxygen demand. At Umshyrpi, the pH, DO, and BOD is 7.4, 3.2, and 21 mg, respectively.

    The pH of the Wah Umhrah near Demthring is 7.4, the DO is 1.2 mg, and the BOD is 30 mg. The readings are 7.6, 4.5 mg and 12.5 mg, 7.4, 0.5 mg and 40 mg, and 7.1, 1.3 mg and 28 mg at Umkaliar, near the Shillong abattoir and Mawpdang Mawlai.

    The Lunar River's tributary of Lukha has a pH of 2.9, a DO of 6.8 mg, and a BOD of 2.7 mg.

    The readings imply that the rivers' water quality is inadequate.

    BOD is the quantity of dissolved oxygen consumed by microorganisms to degrade organic matter in water, represented in milligrammes of oxygen per litre of water. Pristine waters have a value of less than 1 milligramme per litre, highly contaminated waterways have a value of 2–8 milligrammes per litre, and treated urban sewage has a value of 20 milligrammes per litre.

    The free, non-compound oxygen level in water or other liquids is called DO. Its impact on the creatures living in a water body is crucial in determining water quality.

    The pH of water from water quality index indicates how acidic or basic it is. For example, the pH of river water is acidic if it is less than 7 and alkaline or basic if it is greater than 7.

    HH Mohrmen, an environmentalist and novelist, raised worry over the state's rivers. "The state's rivers are under the jurisdiction of independent district councils, but they lack the means and capacity to revitalise the rivers." He said that the state government bears responsibility, but it must also have the will," he stated.

    Naba Bhattacharjee, an environmentalist, appropriated he extended concerns about the waterways in a complaint to the National Green Tribunal in 2014. The case is currently before the Supreme Court.

    In 2019, the NGT fined the government Rs 1 crore for failing to comply with its directions to create action plans for cleaning rivers and managing solid waste disposal.

    In 2019, the Meghalaya State Rejuvenation Committee produced an action plan for the Wah Umkhrah and Umshyrpi to be revitalised. The action plan, which the Central Pollution Control Board approved, outlined responsibilities for several government ministries and local government entities.

    According to reports of water quality index, the state's largest polluting units consist of 15 enterprises, including 10 cement mills. In addition, three ferro-alloy businesses, a power plant, and a brewery were all included on the list of offenders.

    The limestone-rich Jaintia Hills districts are home to seven of these cement companies. In addition, the government has also classified three other cement factories as major polluting enterprises in the East Khasi Hills, East Garo Hills, and Jaintia Hills districts.

    Also Read: Yamuna Cleaning Cell fixes timeline for cleaning Yamuna’s biggest polluters

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