Umiam Lake finds a saviour in NEC

SHILLONG, April 29: Umiam lake, popularly known as Barapani, which is in grave danger owing to severe siltation besides facing the problem of pollution, has found a saviour in the North Eastern Council (NEC). The Assam Governor, Lt Gen (Retd) SK Sinha, who is also the Chairman of the NEC, has assured of all possible help from the Council to save the Umiam Lake which is in danger of siltation. "I will see what could be done to save Umiam," he said while addressing a public function at Bhoirymbong in Ri-Bhoi district earlier this week. Though the Government of India has laid down that 'no new project be started in 2001-2002 in the entire country" in the wake of the Gujarat earthquake, the project to save Umiam will be an exception, he said. Meghalaya Chief Minister EK Mawlong, who was present at the meeting, made a strong plea for funds to save the Umiam lake catchment area. Though Japanese experts had projected a 400-year life-span for the lake, Mawlong said, "owing to silting, the life of the lake has been reduced to 65 years. Unless urgent measures are taken, the life-span of the lake could be reduced further." The estimated project cost for saving the lake comes to about Rs 11 crore.