SHILLONG: The government has not made any proposal to shift the present disposal of garbage from Mawlai Marten to any new area although an alternative site for new dumping ground is being examined.
This was informed by Minister of Urban Affairs department, Hamletson Dohling to a question posed by Congress MLA, PT Sawkmie.
In reply to a supplementary query, the Minister informed that three sites were identified as the sites comply with Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016.
He added that environmental Impact Assessment for using the sites for processing and disposal facilities of solid waste will be prepared and presented to the stakeholders and public.
As for the new sites, the land shall be initiated for acquisition after which the waste processing and disposal facilities shall be developed at the final selected site after obtaining the environmental clearance.
In reply to a supplementary question, Dohling said, “The government is serious with doing its work to find an ground as alternative to Marten. The Task Force has been doing its work. Process is on to find the site, till now no site was found.”
Congress MLA, Zenith Sangma expressed concern on the location of dumping ground at residential areas and asserted that the site should be shifted to another safe place which would not affect human life.
Asian Development Projects (ADB) at Marten
Speaking about the schemes, Dohling pointed to the ADB Projects at Marten, he said development of a sanitary landfill at the same site was also being taken up over an area of 15,000 sq. meters at an estimated cost of about Rs 27.09 crores.
Dohling said that Phase I of the work over an area of 6500 sq. m was completed and commissioned on October 2, 2017 and the same was being used at present for non-degradable waste.
“Phase II which cost Rs 19.33 crores was in progress. About 55 % has been completed and the rest scheduled for completion in December 2018,” he said.
The sanitary landfill works consists of development of landfill (excavation, laying of clay Liner, HDPE Membrane, Leachate collection system etc.), retaining walls estimated at Rs 12.5 crore and boundary wall including cattle proof fencing, Leachate holding tank, weigh bridge installations.
“Other associated items of works like drain, approach road, area lighting, guard room and water supply systems. A garage cum workshop for the garbage vehicles of SMB was also constructed at Marten at a cost of about Rs 2.53 crores. About 98 per cent of the work is completed,” Dohling said.
New compost plant
Dohling informed that a new compost plant in place of the old one was being constructed under the ADB-MoUD assisted NERCCDIP at a cost of Rs 15.79 crores. The work is in progress and estimated time of completion is January 2019.