Myntdu River

News: The Liar Pamkam and Mynkrem tributaries of the Myntdu river have been severely damaged by rampant debris dumping during the construction of the Jowai bypass road.

About Myntdu River

• Origin: The Myntdu River originates in the Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya, near the village of Mihmyntdu, approximately 2 km from the district headquarters of Jowai.
• This river encircles Jowai on three sides excluding the northern part of town.
• It is locally known as ‘ka Tawiar ka Takan’ (Our Guardian Angel) in the Pnar dialect.
• It is often described as the guardian and protector of the inhabitants of Jowai region.
• Course: The river flows across Jowai, and then through Leshka, to reach the village Borghat, within Jaintia Hills, before finally entering Bangladesh, where it is locally called ‘Shari’ (or ‘Hari’).
  • It ultimately joins the Surma-Meghna river system.
• Tributaries: The chief tributaries of the Myntdu River are Umshariang, Lamu and Lynriang River.
  • The Umshariang coming from the west and Lamu coming from the east unite with the Myntdu River and form a tri-junction of three tributaries named as Leshka.
  • The Myntdu River after flowing southwards from Leshka joins its major tributary of the Lynriang River at a height of 335 m.
• Geology: The river traverses the denudational high and low hills of the Jaintia Hills, dominated by the Shella Formation of the Jaintia Group, which features alternating layers of sandstone and limestone.
• Project: The prominent Myntdu Leshka Hydroelectric Project (Stage I) is a 126 MW (3 × 42 MW) run-of-the-river dam located at Leshka.