What Turned the World’s Cleanest River ‘Umngot’s Waters in Meghalaya Murky?

Meghalaya’s Law Minister Lahkmen Rymbui has attributed the issue to debris dumping linked to ongoing road expansion works

What happened to the river once called Asia’s cleanest? How did the crystal clear waters of the Umngot River in Dawki, which is Meghalaya’s pride and a global tourist magnet, suddenly turn murky? And more importantly, who is responsible?

These questions echo across Meghalaya as locals, tourists, and environmentalists express outrage over the discolouration of the Umngot River, which for years symbolised the state’s unspoiled beauty. The river, once transparent enough for boats to appear as if they were floating on air, now bears the murky stains of human negligence.

Meghalaya’s Law Minister Lahkmen Rymbui has attributed the issue to debris dumping linked to ongoing r