SHILLONG: The mini composting plant at Marten in Mawiong is almost ready and all set to be inaugurated next week.
Sources said the indigenous method of composting will be practised in the new plant at Marten. They added that the work for scientific landfill is going on in full-swing and 80 per cent of it has been completed.
The landfill, once complete, will be a relief for the residents of Mawiong as the stench will no longer pervade the area.
The present condition of Marten was also discussed in the ongoing Autumn Session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly and many MLAs have expressed concern over the deplorable condition of the wholesale market nearby.
According to sources, the distribution of 1.03 lakh dustbins to around 50,000 families living in the non-municipal areas of Shillong under the Asian Development Bank project will start shortly and the dustbins are likely to reach Shillong at the end of this month.
The dustbins will be distributed for segregation of bio-degradable and non-biodegradable wastes on residents’ doorstep. The process of distributing the green and blue dustbins is complete in the municipal areas of the city.
In addition, 16 vehicles will reach Shillong from where they will be distributed in different localities.
When asked about the poor response of the shopkeepers who were asked to buy their own colour-coded dustbins, sources said the Shillong Municipal Board would publish a final notice in newspapers at the end of this month after which the civic board will start imposing fines on shopkeepers who fail to use the dustbins. Also, the Board workers will get uniforms for easy identification.
It may be mentioned that the Shillong Municipal Board in the last couple of months has apprehended many people who dumped their garbage in open places and streams.
A straight fine of Rs 5,000 was imposed on such defaulters.
