Proper waste management
SHILLONG: The Government’s proposed move to construct landfills in and around Shillong to address the garbage management woes of the fast-growing city has been vehemently opposed by local residents, leaving the State Government in a spot of bother.
Speaking to media persons recently, Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh stated that some localities in the city must come forward and allow the Government to construct a landfill for proper garbage disposal.
Stating that the Government will not go against the wishes of the people if they are against construction of a landfill in their respective localities, Lyngdoh, however, asserted that a landfill is of utmost importance in Shillong so that the garbage disposal problem could be addressed in the proper way.
She also lamented that waste in Shillong has no return value, whereas in other cities people are making money out of waste.
Reacting to a query about the rampant use of plastic and polythene bags in the city despite a ban, Lyngdoh admitted that the Government had adopted several plans to impose the ban on use of plastics but to no avail.
“Plastics of certain macro values can be recycled for energy waste and this is one of the modern methods of garbage management,” Lyngdoh said, while adding that local residents and traditional institutions need to partner with the Government to stop the use of plastics which is extremely harmful to the environment.
According to Lyngdoh, people have nothing to fear from the Shillong Municipal Board since the SMB can only conduct raids but it does not have the authority to arrest anyone.
It may be mentioned that the State Urban Affairs Department would soon upgrade the existing Marten at Mawlai Mawiong for conversion of the waste into energy. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will fund the upgradation project which may cost anything between Rs 30 to 40 crore.
The upgradation is aimed at implementing a scientific method of waste management under which some waste will be converted into energy, some as compost whatever is left would be used as landfill.