Shillong, Oct 29: Shillong MP Ricky J Syngkon has drew the attention of the centre over what he termed as “severe environmental degradation” of the Umngot River in West Jaintia Hills, allegedly caused by construction activities under the Shillong-Tamabil road expansion project.

In his letter to Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, the MP said the river once celebrated as “Asia’s cleanest river” has turned “muddy and lifeless” this October — a period when its waters should be crystal clear.

He highlighted that local communities, tourism operators and environmental organisations are alarmed by this development.

Syngkon alleged that large-scale hill cutting and the dumping of excavated soil and debris into the Umtyngar and Umngot river systems b

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