The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) has directed the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to address concerns regarding improper earth disposal and potential environmental hazards associated with the ongoing Shillong–Dawki Road construction project. In a letter addressed to the PMU General Manager, MSPCB Chairman R. Nainamalai detailed several violations identified during an inspection on October 31.
The MSPCB found large-scale excavation, filling, and earthwork activities taking place across the project’s five packages. Officials expressed concern that excavated earth was being irresponsibly dumped along the roadside without proper containment or stabilization.
Particularly alarming were the findings at the Pynursla–Dawki Bridge area, where NHIDCL had conducted filling work to remedy a landslide without implementing necessary retaining structures like sandbags or slope protections. This negligence resulted in filling material sliding into the Umngot River, posing a significant risk of erosion and sedimentation. The area’s instability was considered especially hazardous during heavy rainfall.
Further investigations at the New Dawki Bridge construction site revealed extensive hill-cutting activities, causing substantial amounts of loose soil and debris to flow downhill into the Umngot River, further exacerbating siltation issues. The MSPCB cautioned that such unregulated disposal of earth and inadequate slope stabilization could lead to severe environmental degradation, including river pollution and an increased risk of landslides.
During an inspection at Shnongpdeng, a popular tourist spot, the river water was noted to be turbid and muddy. Locals reported that the Umngot River had been persistently murky for some time. Water samples were collected for lab analysis to assess the turbidity levels and other water quality parameters.
In the Darang area, resident Trebor Suchen informed officials that the turbidity seemed to stem from Wah Umsong near Laitlyngkot, where excavated soil was allegedly dumped near a tributary of the Umngot River.
In response to these observations, officials have issued appropriate directives to NHIDCL, mandating immediate corrective measures to comply with environmental norms and the EIA Notification, 2006, as amended in 2025. This notification regulates linear projects involving earth extraction beyond specific thresholds.
MSPCB’s directives require the prompt removal of construction and demolition waste from the Umngot River and obligate contractors to secure Consent to Establish or Operate from the MSPCB within 15 days. Moreover, the Board emphasized strict enforcement of the Meghalaya Stone Crusher Order concerning the sourcing and use of boulders among contractors. Additionally, NHIDCL has been directed to submit an action taken report without delay.
Original Source: https://nenews.in/meghalaya/meghalaya-pcb-issues-directives-to-nhidcl-over-environmental-violations-along-shillong-dawki-road-project/35216/
Category: Meghalaya,Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB),NHIDCL
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Publish Date: 2025-11-01 11:42:00
