Shillong: Once celebrated as a budding paradise for nature lovers, Markham Valley in Eastern West Khasi Hills has drawn widespread alarm as visuals of massive hill-cutting and deforestation began circulating online.
The flourishing meadows and rolling hills that earned it the moniker “Mini Dzukou” now appear to be facing an existential threat.
The valley, situated about 67 km from the state capital and regarded as a key offbeat tourism attraction, has in recent years offered livelihood opportunities for several locals as visitor footfall gradually increased.
Its untouched charm and landscape often compared with Nagaland’s Dzukou Valley.
But the latest images triggered outrage among environmentalists and residents alike, who alleged the involvement of a well-connected group operating behind the scenes.
Concerns have grown that the natural beauty of the region is being traded for profit at the hands of a powerful mafia.
Voicing worry over the unfolding situation, Mawthadraishan MLA Shakliar Warjri stressed that Markham Valley’s immense tourism potential must not be compromised.
He pointed out that proposals focused on travel infrastructure and tourist facilities were already in the pipeline and road connectivity to the area is currently being developed.
Similarly, Tura MP Saleng Sangma criticised the rampant hill-cutting, calling it a direct assault on one of Meghalaya’s most picturesque stretches of land.
He urged both the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) and the state government to take swift action, hinting that such activities are unlikely to occur without collusion involving contractors or government officials.
