By Maitshaphrang Khongwir
A famous waste dumping site in Shillong that we all know of is Marten, located at Mawlai-Mawiong. This place is infamously famous for the strong stench that emanates out of this dumping site, a smell that welcomes all who pass by the highway on their way to Shillong and back. I can only wonder what would be the state of those living around this place to have to breathe and take in the toxic waste emanating from Marten.
Waste management is a major problem for many urban local municipal bodies in India, where urbanization is taking a toll. Across the country, existing systems for the collection, transportation, and disposal of solid waste are mired in chaos. The problem seems to be higher in urban areas where the rapidly increasing population generates larger quantities of solid waste.
I don’t know how many of us in Meghalaya are aware, but the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000 came into force on September 25, 2000. Subject to various suggestions from the public, various sets of rules were updated in many areas such as proper disposal of plastic, e-waste, biomedical, hazardous, and construction demolition waste management rules. The Government of India later notified and revised the rules in 2016 to the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
In Meghalaya, we have different Municipal Boards in various districts whose one of many responsibilities is to look into effective waste disposal and management in the State which is handled by the Urban Affairs Department and Municipal Administration Department, presently under the watch of the cabinet minister, Sniawbhalang Dhar.
In Shillong, the Shillong Municipal Board caters to the many needs of the citizens, one of which is effective waste management. A famous waste dumping site in Shillong that we all know of is Marten, located at Mawlai-Mawiong. This place is infamously famous for the strong stench that emanates out of this dumping site, a smell that welcomes all who pass by the highway on their way to Shillong and back. I can only wonder what would be the state of those living around this place to have to breathe and take in the toxic waste emanating from Marten. It seems several pleas and requests were made to the Urban Affairs Department to look into the matter, but sadly it has fallen on deaf ears. Everyone knows that the odour and fumes are affecting the health conditions of the people, while the toxic wastes also flow into the Umiam river during rainy seasons. Sadly, the Urban Affairs Minister seems to be the least concerned by whatever is happening around.
What is making headlines at the moment is the recent act of the Jowai Municipal Board (JMB) dumping all of the wastes from Jowai also in Marten. The reason for this seems to be that the KSU and various other localities had protested against dumping of waste in the waste disposal site at Mynkjai which is under the watch of the JHADC, the reason being that the JHADC and staff of the JMB were not effectively handling the disposal of waste which was posing a threat to the people and livelihoods around. What is however alarming is that the Jowai Municipal Board and the Urban Affairs Department both, instead of trying to find effective solutions are doing nothing but taking the easy way out by bringing the waste all the way from Jowai and dumping it at an already exhausted site at the Marten. The dumping of more additional waste by the JMB will only make matters worse for the people living in this area.
While a prominent face, the MLA of Mawlai Constituency, Process Sawkmie is vocal on this issue, it seems his voice is not being paid heed to. In all of this, it is interesting to see that the Minister in charge of the Urban Affairs Department and Municipal Administration Department, Sniawbhalang Dhar seems to be the least bothered by whatever is happening. It seems he is rather interested in his family business and is waiting for the situation to get critical so that he can compel the Urban Affairs Department to come up with a multi-crore project as an alternative to the current problem at Marten which he then will ultimately award to his kith and kin. This is not the first time that evidence of favouritism has emerged against Sniawbhalang as it is was alleged that in the year 2015, he had awarded his brother, Rocky Dhar, a Rs 3 crore project while he was still a Congress legislator. Reports are still evident of favouritism towards M/s Dhar Construction Company, a firm for which he influences officials to hand over various projects. He has always been known to have influenced awarding various PWD road projects, and toll gates to his family members. Maybe this could also be one of the strategies through which another project can be bagged to benefit the Dhars.
As citizens, we elect a representative to look into the issues that concern the public and try to come up with solutions, but it seems for some people the warmth of excessive money blinds them to the plight of their people who are crying out for help. What is the Urban Affairs Minister waiting for? A time for when the Marten has to shut down? But that will happen when its too late and people start to fall ill at the expense of the mismanagement of this Department under his watchful eyes? Or is it waiting for someone to hand them another extra ton of money for them to effect a turnaround that will lead to effectively manage this situation, something that I highly doubt will happen? The incompetence of ministers is not a new thing in our State, but such high-handed incompetence and ignorance is a rare sighting.