Shillong: Opposition legislators took the state government to task on Tuesday over lack of proper waste disposal system in Meghlaya.
Several legislators raised concerns over the lack of waste disposal management in Jowai town as well as in Shillong city.
Mawsynram MLA HM Shangpliang said that a huge pile of garbage is piling up in front of the DC office in Jowai even as he asked the government to immediately identify a new location to dump the garbage.
Referring to pictures and media clips of garbage piling up in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Shangpliang said that Iawmusiang market management pays services tax to the Jowai Municipal Board but the board is not collecting garbage from Iawmusiang and other markets.
Mawlai MLA PT Sawkmie said that even Shillong city needs a comprehensive land for garbage management.
Sawkmie said the present landfill at Marten in Mawlai will be filled in 3-4 years and then even Shillong city will have similar problems like Jowai town.
Opposition leader Dr Mukul Sangma asked the state government to use available technologies for garbage management which will encourage the people to come forward and give their land for garbage disposal management.
In his reply, Urban Affairs Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said the problem cropped up as seven villages opposed the dumping of garbage in one of the villages in Jaintia Hills due to non-scientific disposal of waste.
He also informed that a public hearing was recently held in one of the villages under Thadlaskein for a permanent landfill site of 100 acres. The government is awaiting a detailed report from the deputy commissioners about the public hearing, he said.
He also informed that the Jowai Municipal Board is currently dumping garbage in three-four temporary dumping sites.
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