Umiam Lake | 21 Apr 2026
Following intense protests by environmental and local groups, the Meghalaya government has decided to exclude the scenic Lumpongdeng Island situated in the manmade Umiam Lake from a proposed luxury resort project.
- Umiam Lake: Popularly known as Barapani, Umiam Lake (locally called Dam Sait) is a scenic reservoir about 15 km north of Shillong in Meghalaya, formed in the early 1960s by damming the Umiam River under the Umiam Umtru Hydroelectric Power Project.
- It was developed by the Assam State Electricity Board for hydroelectric power generation, with the Umiam Stage I powerhouse (4×9 MW) commissioned in 1965 (the first reservoir-based hydel project in Northeast India).
- Surrounded by East Khasi Hills along the Guwahati–Shillong route, the lake is now a major hub for water sports and tourism.
- Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are being prepared to develop Inland Water Transport (IWT) infrastructure on Umiam Lake and the Umngot River (National Waterway-106), marking them as the state’s first National Waterways.
Incredible Lakes of Northeast India
|
Lake |
State |
Key Features |
Unique Highlights |
|
Sangetsar Lake (Madhuri Lake) |
Arunachal Pradesh |
High-altitude lake in Tawang. |
Surrounded by snow-clad mountains, exotic landscape. |
|
Palak Lake (Palak Dil) |
Mizoram |
Largest lake in Mizoram, inside Palak Wildlife Sanctuary. |
Part of Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, rich flora & fauna. |
|
Loktak Lake |
Manipur |
Largest freshwater lake in Northeast India. |
Famous for phumdis (floating islands), hosts Keibul Lamjao National Park (NP) (only floating NP in the world). |
|
Chandubi Lake |
Assam |
Located near Garo Hills. |
Attracts migratory birds, surrounded by forests & tea gardens. |
| Read more: Environmental Challenges in Northeast India |