Forgotten lands of Meghalaya

In picture:A view of Balat village beside river Umngi taken on July 2014.As of today the tower that can be seen in the picture stands no more. The houses infront of the tower are no longer there.The place where the river is currently flowing used to actually house vibrant Garo and Hajong communities and there were two football fields.It is ironic that a high official from the district,who was also the lone visitor,told the villagers as to why they had constructed their houses on the river bank ignorant of the fact that the river had changed its course.

At first sight Wah(river)Umngi is just like any other non-polluted river of the region,beautiful and flowing harmlessly across the country side. Small hamlets which represent a mini India among themselves are to be found along the course of the river.Villages of Mawshaliah (hatong),Umsarang, Nongdisiar, Pynden Umsarang, Umsarang, Umlynter, Nongsng Photstien,Photsien Nongrum,Kanda Para,Balat are a few to name.

On a casual glance very few will be able to tell that the river has changed its course engulfing football fields,houses,paddy fields educational institutes and religious structures.According to the Rangbah Shnong(Headman) Koilang Khardewsaw, just within the last four years 112 houses,1 ICOS Balat Centre,1 Government L.P School,1 Hajong Government L.P School and 2 L.P to UP of Balat Presbyterian School have been lost to Wah Umngi.The calm rivers fiery nature is not revealed unless one visits its embankments and witnesses the devastation first hand.

This year alone 45 houses have been swallowed up by the ever expanding river which is threatening to cut right through the Balat village.The danger increases every time there is a hint of thunder storm and the risk of the river swelling in size leaves the villagers on tenterhooks. If the current trend continues,within a couple of years there will be no Balat village and even its adjoining villages will be remembered in the folklore of the people living around the area.

Harsh Jhunjhunwala

Photos Manav Dey

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