Meghalaya: SSMP inspects Marten landfill, says satisfied with progress

Shillong: Youth organisation Seng Samla Mawlai Pyllun (SSMP), which has been at the forefront to draw the government’s attention towards the overflowing of garbage at Marten, Shillong, on Monday inspected the compost plant at the landfill site and expressed satisfaction.

Following a site inspection on Monday morning, the SSMP, along with officials from the municipal board, inspected and also checked the compost plant that started functioning last October.

SSMP president Samuel Biam expressed satisfaction over the development that has taken place at Marten compared to last year.

He said the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) has taken a lot of initiative and they can see that. “We’re happy that compost plant is also functional,” added Biam.

It maybe mentioned that last year the youth organisation had locked the gates of Marten, not allowing the municipal trucks to dump garbage at the landfill. This then compelled the Meghalaya urban affairs minister to visit the spot and assure to take action.

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A Monitoring Committee was then constituted, making the SSMP a part of the committee.

Executive Engineer FB Chyne said the inspection was carried out to show the prgress made since last year. “The compost plant has started commissioning; we have taken all waste collected from the city, processed it and the bio degradable waste will be processed into compost and organic rejects or waste will be taken out,” Chyne said.

He also informed that the SMB entered into an MoU with Dalmia Cements Ltd wherein these organic rejects will be taken to the plants located at Lumshnong in East Jaintia Hills District which will then be used by the factory. He added that people from the department are working hard and a unit has been set up headed by an Assistant Engineer who will look after the welfare of Marten.

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Asked if the problem at Marten has been resolved, Chyne said he cannot say that the problem has been resolved since waste is a problem and they can see that waste is still lying around here and there.

“But we are improving day by day. We’re trying to reduce the problem like the smell emitting from this landfill,” the executive engineer said.

He also said that to avoid waste flowing into Umiam river, they have constructed a wall ensuring that the waste is contained within Marten. The SSMP has also expressed willingness to help the department in spreading awareness among the people in agreeing to give their land to be used as a landfill site.

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