Shillong Municipal Board CEO-led panel to look into Marten landfill issue

Shillong: A joint committee headed by the chief executive officer (CEO) of Shillong Municipal Board will be formed to look into the Marten landfill issue, a meeting of Meghalaya urban affairs minister Sniawbhalang Dhar with youth organisation Seng Samla Mawlai Pyllun (SSMP) decided on Tuesday.

The development came after SSMP “locked” the gates of the main landfill site at Marten in Shillong on July 21. The organisation decided to take the extreme step after minister Dhar failed to inspect the area, as was promised by him in his last meeting with the students’ body earlier in July.

However, following this, minister Dhar was compelled to visit the site a day later on July 22.

SSMP general secretary Samran Syiem confirmed that in Tuesday’s meeting it was decided that a joint committee will be formed to follow up on the issue and to ensure that it is solved at the earliest.

“The minister has assured us that he will do whatever be can in his capability to ensure that the Marten issue is solved. He has made a commitment that he will do it. We are excited and looking forward to it,” said Syiem.

SSMP had suggested that the Marten issue should be solved in such a way that not only the nearby residents of Mawlai but the whole state will benefit from it.

Minister Dhar said that the department is working hard to ensure that a new landfill is identified at the earliest.

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Dhar denied that the people were opposing the overflowing of marten but claimed that they were acting as responsible and concerned citizens and wanted to highlight the issue.

An inspection was carried out July 22 and following that the minister had called an official meeting of all the stakeholders.

The youth organisation has been demanding the government to identify an alternative landfill site and find a long-term solution to the issues pertaining to the area.

SSMP has also demanded the government to set up a proper technology to treat the bio-medical waste at the treatment plant in Marten.