Shillong, Aug 6: Concerned over the growing threat of erosion along the Umiam river in Shella, the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has urged the government to act swiftly to protect vulnerable areas.
In a letter to Minister of Water Resources Comingone Ymbon, HYC president Roykupar Synrem appealed for immediate construction of revetments, spurs, embankments, and other protective infrastructure—from Pyrkan locality downstream to Kalatek near the Indo-Bangladesh border—to safeguard riverbanks and prevent further land loss.
According to the council, the area, situated downstream of the Umiam river, is frequently affected by flash floods and soil erosion, causing significant damage to agricultural land, properties, and the livelihoods of residents.
Synrem noted that the continued erosion has not only eaten away at farmland but also reduced agricultural productivity, choked water bodies with silt, and damaged the local environment. Many families who rely on farming for their livelihood have been hit hard, he said, warning that the situation is now contributing to growing food insecurity.
According to the group, thousands of acres of agricultural land have been washed away, and properties have been destroyed due to frequent flash floods and soil erosion.
The affected landowners and residents have repeatedly raised this issue with the concerned authorities, but successive governments have failed to take action, he stated.
In the Kalatek area of Shella Village, approximately 19 hectares of land have been washed away in the last 10 years, resulting in significant loss of agricultural land and property.
“Therefore, it is imperative that proactive measures are taken to mitigate these risks and protect vulnerable communities like the people of Shella Village from the frequent losses suffered due to floods and soil erosion,” he stated further in the letter.
