Villagers gather near the new stream at Babukona in North Garo Hills district in Meghalaya. Picture by K.D. Momin

Guwahati, Nov. 2: The strong wave of water that wreaked havoc during the flash floods in September in Meghalaya’s Garo hills left something to cheer about — a new stream.

As the water receded and villagers struggled to rebuild their damaged houses, the sight of a new stream at Babukona cheered many in Resubelpara, the district headquarters of North Garo Hills district.

Babukona is on the outskirts of Resubelpara.

A local NGO, All Garo Hills People’s Federation, now wants this stream amid the lush thick jungles to be developed into a tourist site.

“The strong wave of water removed the rocks that kept the Khona Chiring stream blocked. After the floodwaters receded, we found it to be a flowing stream and a deep pool below. We waited for some days to see if it was a temporary stream but it is still flowing smoothly,” an activist of Resubelpara, Khanin Momin, told The Telegraph over phone today.

Over 50 people had died while hundreds of houses in villages in South and North Garo Hills districts of Meghalaya were destroyed by the flash floods that wreaked havoc in the area as well as in neighbouring Goalpara district in Assam. Twenty-two people had died in Goalpara district, too.

The new stream, now named Chitimtim Dare (dare means stream in the Garo language) by villagers, is attracting many.

“The new waterfall and the pool are surrounded by lush green forests on both sides, making it an ideal recreational spot for those who want to experience nature at its best,” Momin said.

North Garo Hills district was carved out of the East Garo Hills district in July 2012. Winberth N. Marak, the general secretary of the NGO, said they had moved deputy commissioner W. Khyllep to develop the site into a tourist centre. “The district administration told us that it wants to wait for a few months to see that the stream does not go dry in winter before taking up any work there. As our district was created only two years ago, we need to concentrate not only on other issues but also to identify the sites which can be developed as tourist sites. This stream can be an important tourist attraction if the administration develops it and infrastructure for tourists is put in place,” Marak said.

The forum recently met Maxwell D. Sangma, a resident of upper Babukhona, on whose land a portion of the waterfall is located, and discussed the preservation of the natural formation.

Sangma also promised to donate a portion of his land for the purpose, Marak said.

The NGO also appealed to all visitors to refrain from throwing waste in the pool created near the waterfall.