Umiam lake conservation-stakeholder dialogue and future strategies held in Shillong on March 2009

Umiam lake conservation – stakeholder dialogue & future strategies was held on 9th & 10th March 2009, in Shillong. People's learning centre (PLC), Shillong were the organizers of the event, the event was supported by Arghyam, Bangalore.

Collated version of the presentations will be prepared and made available on the public domain in local languages. It will spell out what individuals and institutions can do to conserve Umiam Lake.
Background Note

Some of the presentations made during the workshop are attached below:

• Umiam Lake Status, presentation from the Meghalaya State Electricity Board by L. S. Tariang, Chief Engineer (HP&SH). MeSeB has complete management rights of Umiam Lake as it's a reservoir from which they generate hydro electricity.

MeSEB Demystifying Umiam Lake Degradation (Part I)
MeSEB Demystifying Umiam Lake Degradation (Part II)
MeSEB Demystifying Umiam Lake Degradation (Part III)

• Types of Upstream land use and Impact on Lake Siltation: Kasturi Chakraborty, North East Space Application Centre (NESAC)

NESAC Lake Catchment

• Water Quality and Sediment Analysis, Dr. P.K. Ghosh, Indian Centre for Agricultural Research (ICAR)

ICAR Water Quality

• Independent Perspective on Umiam Lake Siltation: Naba Bhattacharjee, Consultant. Mr. Bhattacharjee's presentation contradicts the statements made by MeSEB in their presentation. He also points at possible breaching of the dam due to excessive siltation.

Naba Bhattacharjee Threats to Umiam

• Water Pollution of Lake Umiam and its River Systems and Mitigation Measures; J. SAWIAN, Scientist, Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB)

MSPCB Sources of Pollution

• Plan of Action

Movies from the workshop:

D. Paul, Professor at North East Hill University (NEHU), Centre for Environment Studies (CES), explains to 1st and 2nd year students indicators of water pollution.

Water quality analysis by an MSc student from the Department of environmental science of the North East Hill University (NEHU)
Problems of lake Umiam
Mr. Dohling, is a Rangba Shnong, head of a group of traditional institutions. Here he talks about why the Rivers of Shillong matter to traditional institutions and citizens alike and what can be done to save them
Conrad Sangma, Minister of Power, Finance and Tourism, Govt of Meghalaya - Govt's perspective on Umiam Lake conservation and existing and future efforts