This is particularly the case in the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya where many rivers like the Lukha had changed its colour into a dark blue and where hundreds of dead fishes float.

Just a few weeks ago last May, the Governor of Meghalaya, Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary released a book describing the formation of caves which have become one of the wonders of the world but which are now facing imminent danger which might result in the loss of this natural wealth that was formed millions of years ago if wanton destruction is allowed in the name of development. The author of the book entitled ‘Caves for the Uninitiated’, Brian D Kharpran Daly had predicted of horrid times to come if the greed for materialistic wealth outweighs the rationale of preserving our natural resources, of not just beauty but most importantly of the necessities in sustaining the life of humankind itself.

The caves of Meghalaya have gained national and international repute. According to the latest information, a total of 1350 caves have been identified and over 850 have been discovered through various expeditions conducted by the Meghalaya Adventurers Association in collaboration with other international bodies and the armed forces of the country including the navy. About 385 kilometres of these caves have been explored, surveyed and mapped through the guidance and leadership of Brian Kharpran Daly who had been awarded the prestigeous Tenzing Norgay National Award in 2002.

Caving has therefore immense potential in the development of sports tourism which can handsomely contribute to the revenue earnings of the State. Yet the State is yet to have an effective and workable mining policy that can plug the loopholes of environmental destruction because of the lukewarm attitude of the Government leadership.

Quoting an extract from the book, ‘Caves for the Uninitiated’, it reads as follows when mentioning the perils faced by one of the oldest caves at Mawmluh, in the vicinity of Sohra, the place which receives the heaviest rainfall on the planet – ‘Remember Krem Mawmluh. I ventured looking at them. The cement factory has been quarrying limestone over the top of the cave for the last forty years or so, and you must have seen the effects, that in the not too distant future, the roof of Krem Mawmluh cave will be lost forever. It will be a great tragedy that I shirk to bear’.

Still, in the Sohra region up to Mawsynram lies the heaviest rainfall zone about 30 kilometres long and 3 kilometres wide between 1250 and 1380 metre contour. Once this vital stretch of the environment is destroyed or disfigured, the rain bearing clouds rising from the Bay of Bengal of the Indian Ocean will no longer be trapped to result in the heaviest rainfall belt on earth. Thus Meghalaya and most parts of the northeastern region will turn out to be a wet desert. The idea of building dams, ropeways and other disturbing developmental activities would be preposterous.

In fact there is a growing concern over the building of dams for hydro generation of power in the northeastern region, especially mega dams. It is understandable that power is needed in the region but not at the cost of destroying the environment and natural resources. There are other alternatives for obtaining the required power from gas, thermal and non – conventional energy sources such as solar and wind energy besides the possibility of micro and mini hydro projects which can provide sufficient energy if these alternative energy sources are tapped into.

Grave concern was therefore raised and opposition was shown against the damming of the river Brahmaputra by China, especially considering the fact that the region lies in a heavily seismic zone in which devastating occurrences can take place if mega dams or any other dams in the region burst out and add to the fury of such natural calamities. The people of the North East therefore cannot be taken for granted in the race towards development without taking serious account of the existing ground realities that natural resources can be misused thus causing detrimental effects on the land and its people.

It is towards this end and view that as many as 26 concerned organizations of the northeastern region, under the banner of the North East Dialogue Forum have jointly intimated to India, China and Bangladesh expressing their concern over the use of water and the adverse impact of constructing mega dams. In this connection, Bangladesh has objected to the construction of dams in Meghalaya for hydel generation of power across rivers that flow southwards into Bangladesh as this will endanger the normal flow of these waters that feed the agricultural requirements of the neighbouring country. Meghalaya being a small state in geographical area, cannot inundate itself by continuous damming of streams and rivers affecting the agriculture and normal activities of the people besides causing irreparable damage to the environment.

It is therefore harmful to allow development to become a craze or some sort of fashion violating the laws of nature which can result in a very vengeful verdict. Ominous signs have already appeared in the form of climatic change and the rising degree of diseases, some of which are very hard to diagnose. Therefore it can be said here that the North East needs a responsible development programme which is realistic in bringing about all round positive benefits in a balanced and measured manner.

Therefore, in this context, inference can be made to the North East Dialogue Forum, meeting on the 17th and 18th of May, adopting the ‘Dimapur Declaration’ to protect the inherent rights of the North East people, over their water, land, forests and other natural resources, based on customary and international laws as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Declaration on the rights of the indigenous people, 2007. These rights of the indigenous people are already inherent from time immemorial, yet the present system of Government needs to legalize effective laws in meeting the existing conditions based on the traditional and customary laws that govern the lives and existence of the people and also of their survival, in their own way of life. Nothing, therefore, can be imposed, whether how to sow a seed or how to harvest the crops.

There needs to be a balanced blend of ancient wisdom and modern technology, an elastic and liberal outlook, if the North East is really to progress towards prosperity. The manner of life of the people has to be respected, as do their lands, forests and environs. Much also depends on the people themselves to be mature and responsible in the judicious use of natural resources according to the needs and not by materialistic greed.  It should be kept in mind that the generations of tomorrow have their rightful claim to their share of these natural resources of which they cannot be robbed nor denied.

U Sumar Sing Sawian