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Rampant debris dumping during Jowai bypass construction damages Myntdu river tributaries
Siltation reduces reservoir capacity, threatens drinking water supply and aquatic habitats
NGT issues fresh directions on Cooum river restoration and waste dumping in Kerala
The Liar Pamkam and Mynkrem tributaries of the Myntdu river have been severely damaged by rampant debris dumping during the construction of the Jowai bypass road, which includes a paved shoulder and connects NH-40E and NH-44 over a total length of 5.91 kilometres.
This was stated in the interim report of a joint committee dated March 10, 2026, placed on record by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) in compliance with an order of the National Green Tribunal dated February 4, 2026.
The construction of the Jowai bypass road is taking place along hillocks near the Myntdu river. The joint committee inspected the area on 23 February 2026 and visited multiple sites along the river.
The inspection confirmed that road construction is ongoing. At several locations along the river and its tributaries, no environmental safeguards were observed. The reservoir was also inspected and found to have reduced capacity due to siltation originating from damaged tributaries as a result of illegal dumping during construction.
The committee further confirmed that construction and dumping activities are continuing under the present contractor, who has not been following proper environmental safeguards.
Near the Liar Pamkam stream, earth cutting and dumping were observed directly on slopes without protective measures such as silt fences or retaining walls. Although sandbag palisading had been provided, it was insufficient to control the debris already dumped.
Near the Mynkrem stream, construction activities directly linked to indiscriminate dumping into the water body were observed. At the Treiong Riang stream, debris was seen being pushed directly towards the river. Downstream of Liar Pamkam, debris from hilltop construction was found to be washing downstream during heavy rainfall.
Officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) informed the committee that the contractor had cleared debris from affected paddy fields. However, inspection revealed that further action is required to ensure complete removal.
The inspection also found clear evidence of habitat destruction. The Liar Pamkam stream was completely blocked by debris, while heavy siltation was observed in the Myntdu river and at the Public Health Engineering (PHE) reservoir. A fish sanctuary located downstream is also being adversely affected.
The committee noted that the PHE Department of Jowai town draws drinking water from the Myntdu river through a small dam or reservoir. The intake point is located approximately 5-6 km downstream of the construction site, while the raw water intake lies about 1.5-2 km from the treatment facility. The reservoir’s capacity has declined due to siltation, and pollution from tributaries continues to flow into it.
The PWD representative stated that compensation had been paid to affected paddy field owners. However, the committee observed that dumping continued unabated near the project site despite complaints. The designated dumping site at Demthring was largely unused, indicating poor enforcement.
The PWD’s response at Liar Pamkam, that slope “dressing and plantation” were not included in the detailed project report (DPR), points to a systemic failure to integrate environmental safeguards into project planning. The inspection also confirmed the absence of a functional buffer zone, with construction and dumping occurring right up to the riverbanks.
The report added that the MSPCB has requested the Government of Meghalaya to declare the stretch of the Myntdu river from Jingkieng Myntdu to the PHE water source as a critical catchment area under the Meghalaya Protection of Catchment Areas Act, 1990. The state has also notified the Water Bodies Guidelines, 2023, regulating activities in and around water bodies.
While some debris and boulders have been cleared from affected paddy fields, residue remains downstream of Liar Pamkam. PWD officials stated that complete removal was not possible as landowners requested that some debris be retained to prevent overflow during heavy rainfall.
A designated dumping site has been identified but has not yet been authorised by the MSPCB due to incomplete documentation. Temporary mitigation measures, such as sandbag palisading and localised slope stabilisation, have been implemented but remain inadequate. Plantation has been carried out along parts of the project stretch; however, the survival rate is low, and further plantation is required, the report noted.
The Water Resources Department (WRD) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) must ensure that no further dumping of debris, sand or construction material takes place in the Cooum river in Chennai beyond what is strictly necessary for the Chennai Port-Maduravoyal Elevated Road Project, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed on March 24, 2026.
The southern bench of the tribunal also directed the NHAI to ensure that temporary structures, including working platforms and piling rigs, are erected only when required and removed immediately after use.
The WRD has been instructed to maintain strict vigilance and take prompt action against unauthorised dumping or encroachment.
“The respondent authorities shall ensure that the natural flow of the river is not obstructed at any stage, particularly during the monsoon season, and that adequate flood mitigation measures are in place,” the order stated.
The tribunal further directed that encroachments be removed expeditiously. The Greater Chennai Corporation and the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust have been asked to continue eco-restoration measures, including construction of boundary walls and waste removal, within a defined timeframe.
The case was registered suo motu based on a report published in the newspaper The Times of India on 11 January 2024, titled Landgrabbers take over Cooum, which highlighted encroachments and illegal dumping along the river, particularly near Koyambedu.
The southern bench of the NGT on March 24, 2026 directed the Mangalpady Grama Panchayat in Kerala’s Kasaragod district to complete bio-mining work at the Kubanoor dump site at the earliest.
The tribunal ordered immediate installation of fire safety infrastructure, including firefighting equipment, water storage facilities and emergency response systems.
The panchayat has been directed to ensure strict compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, from April 1, 2026, including segregation at source and scientific waste processing.
Measures such as monitoring, installation of warning boards and CCTV surveillance must be implemented to prevent further dumping.
The Kerala State Pollution Control Board has been asked to continue monitoring operations and utilise the environmental compensation of ₹60 lakh imposed on the panchayat for site restoration.
Additionally, the Local Self Government Department must submit a compliance report within three months.
The case concerns illegal dumping in an abandoned laterite quarry at Kubanoor, which has been used as a dumping ground for unsegregated municipal waste for nearly 18 years. Approximately 15-20 tonnes of waste were reportedly dumped daily without scientific processing, with nearly 90 per cent of the accumulated waste lying below ground level, exacerbating environmental risks.