Umngot River, the pride of Ri War and flagship of Meghalaya’s eco-tourism plans has gone muddy. In 2021, an image showcasing its crystal-clear waters, which make it appear as though boats are floating on air, went viral when the Jal Shakti Ministry shared it describing the river as one of the cleanest rivers in the world. The ‘flying boat’ picture also caught the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who made a mention of it in his 83rd episode of a monthly radio programme.

However, this time videos and pictures of the crystal green water turning murky has sent shockwaves across the state with tourism stakeholders, nature lovers, tourists and citizens pointing to the ongoing Shillong-Tamabil road expansion project as a key factor contributing to the river’s changing water quality.

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