By Aafaque Hussain
SHILLONG: Construction of the sanitary landfill site at Marten, Mawiong is all set to start in January next year.
Speaking to The Shillong Times here on Wednesday, Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh stated that the department has proposed to award the contract for construction of the sanitary landfill by early December.
“All problems have been sorted out and the work is likely to start in early January next year,” Lyngdoh added.
The project received a boost after the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests gave its go ahead to the project on November 21 last.
The construction of the sanitary landfill at Marten is expected to be completed in eighteen months but the State Government has contemplated to the make the landfill site operational at a place close to the present dumping ground before the next rainy season.
It may be mentioned that the project had hit a stumbling block after local residents demanded shifting of the dumping ground since the State Government is planning to construct an abattoir in the vicinity. According to Lyngdoh, the proposed landfill will ensure scientific dumping of waste and remove the emanating stench in the area.
The project has been approved under the North East Regional Capital Cities Development Investment Programme (NERCCDIP) with a total estimated amount of Rs 3.07 crore.
In the first phase, the project will cover an area of 6500 square metres and it has been designed to meet the standards of Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2000.
Reacting to a query about the deforestation which will take place due to implementation of the project, Ampareen said that a compensation of Rs 76 lakh had already been paid for afforestation programmes.
The proposed landfill would greatly help in scientific disposal of waste which on a daily basis averages around 125 tonnes from municipal areas.