Studies and Evaluation of Environmental and Socio-Impact of Coal Mining Impact in Jaintia Hills District

          The Board undertook the study to investigate the water quality status of river Umshyrpi and its various tributaries. The main objective of the study was to assess the water quality status and to find out the suitable measures to improve its overall water quality.

          The Board prepared a report entitled “Environmental Status of Jowai Town” based on primary and secondary data generated by it and those obtained from other agencies. The aspects of demography, climate, health, education, sanitary status, water supply, traffic, transportation and environmental status viz. ground water quality, surface water quality, ambient air quality, noise levels, waste water generations and pollution load, solid and hospital waste management etc. were part of the report. The report also incorporated recommendations to contain the increasing problem of environmental pollution in Jowai.

          The Board prepared a concise report on the state of Environment of Shillong city. Efforts were made to include all aspects of the present state of environment of the city in the report. The report provides some vital information and compiled data, which may be useful in the long run for developing infra-structural facilities for future expansion with better utility services for the city’s population.

          Biomapping of rivers employs a biomonitoring method, the latest emerged tool for instant and accurate water quality monitoring. It maps a surface water body according to the pollution levels and classifies and zones them as per ecological conditions.

          The concept of bio-mapping water quality of rivers in the country has been successfully introduced by Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi using Biological Water Quality Criteria (BWQC). The information from bio-mapping helps in the classification and zoning of water bodies according to their level of ecological sustenance and degradation. The study project was sponsored by the Central Pollution Control Board for biomapping of 10 (ten) prominent rivers in the State viz. Umkhrah, Umshyrpi, Umkhen, Umiam-Mawphlang, Nongstoin, Kynshi, Myntdu, Lubha, Umngot and Simsang. The report has been published by the Central Pollution Control Board and is available for purchase.

          The Board undertook the study to assess the impact of the mining operations on the surface and groundwater quality of the major residential, coal mining and coal storage areas of Jaintia Hills District and to evolve the measures to check the further degradation of the environment in the affected areas.

Studies and Evaluation of Environmental and Socio-Impact of Coal Mining Impact in Jaintia Hills District:

          The Board undertook the study to evaluate the quality of ambient air, workroom environment, groundwater, surface water etc. The analysis of major and trace elements was a part of the study. The scope of the project was to evolve environmentally friendly technologies, planning for reclamation of the mined degraded land and study the socio economic impact of these activities.

          The Board undertook the study programme entitled “Assessment of Water Quality of Umkhrah River” in collaboration with the Centre for Environmental Studies, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong. The main objective of the study was to assess the pollution load in terms of physio-chemical and bacteriological parameters of the river water and identification of the sources of pollution so as to suggest/recommend suitable mitigating measures to be taken for improvement of the river water quality. The report has been published by the Board and is available for purchase.

          The Board initiated the project “Inventorisation of Polluting Industries in Meghalaya” which was financially assisted by the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, New Delhi. The objectives of this inventory were to streamline the process of consent management; to categorize all the industries into categories of red, orange and green; to determine the area wise concentration of the various industrial units and to generate database for the Board. The report has been published by the Board and is available for purchase.