SHILLONG: In an effort to regain the past glory of Iewduh, the traditional market which is looked upon as the ‘rice plate of the people’, an awareness programme on making Iewduh clean was organized by the office of Syiem and Dorbar Hima Mylliem on Thursday at Students’ Field.
The meeting was attended by shopkeepers of Iewduh in which Environmental Engineer, Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), Wanshan Kharkrang enlightened them on the laws and regulations, punitive actions that entail in a bid to ensure cleanliness is maintained in Iewduh.
The Hima Mylliem, MSPCB and Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) will collaborate in this venture.
Kharkrang said, “As per law, the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board has prohibited the use and sale of plastic bags which are less than 50 microns.”
“Plastic sellers should register themselves with the Board and the office of the Syiem of Hima Mylliem. Registered plastic sellers should put up their registration at the shop and the customers should buy from registered plastic sellers only,” he said.
He added that violation of the said law will warrant fine to the tune of Rs 1 lakh and imprisonment for 6 months.
Kharkrang informed that the Board would conduct inspections from time to time and called for cooperation from the shopkeepers to bring about cleanliness in Iewduh.
With huge piles of rotten vegetables and fruits thrown indiscriminately on certain pathways of Iewduh which emanate a foul smell, he pointed out that segregation of bio-degradable wastes and non bio-degradable wastes was essential.
Meanwhile, Paiem Ricky Nelson Syiem said that the aim of the meeting was to seek cooperation from the shopkeepers to crackdown on uncleanliness and indiscriminate throwing of garbage.
Stating that indiscriminate throwing of garbage is not allowed, he said, “The Hima will reward the person who informs about violators out of the Rs 8000 fined imposed on them for throwing garbage indiscriminately.