JOWAI/SHILLONG, Aug 9: Curbs imposed by the West Jaintia Hills district administration failed to prevent hundreds of residents from nine villages — Moopyut, Moosakhia, Umsalang, Madan-Tyrpait, Skhenpyrsit, Muphlang, Pynthor-Langtein, Samanong and Mustem — who came out with banners and placards on Monday to protest against the dumping of garbage at Mynkjai by the Jowai Municipal Board (JMB).
The Khasi Students’ Union War Jaintia region also lent support to the protest.
A meeting convened by the district administration and authorities of Amlarem civil sub-division with the headmen and the KSU failed to resolve the issue as the protesters stuck to their stand of not allowing dumping of waste collected from Jowai at Mynkjai.
The headmen said that rampant dumping of waste at Mynkjai has affected the environment, and the waste gives out a foul smell which would have severe effects on the health of the people residing in and around the area.
The Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Amlarem, said that the West Jaintia Hills district administration had held a meeting on August 2 with the stakeholders, including residents living near the landfill, and decided that the Mynkjai landfill would continue to be used for dumping waste collected by the JMB till a suitable landfill site is readied within six months.
The magistrate has also directed the Chief Executive Officer, JMB, to monitor and ensure that the garbage is disposed in a proper manner.
Efforts are under way to prepare the new landfill site and the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council and Urban Affairs department have assured that the issue would be accorded the highest priority.
In addition, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Amlarem, has imposed Section 144 CrPC prohibiting any form of gathering of five or more persons in and around the landfill area at Mynkjai.
Meanwhile, headmen of Jowai town under the banner of the Synjuk Ki Waheh Chnong Jowai (SWCJ), consisting of more than 25 localities, have decided to hold a protest from 11 am till 4 pm on Tuesday in front of the West Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner’s Office, alleging that the district administration has failed to dispose waste collected by the Jowai Municipal Board from various Dorbar.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, SDO (Civil) Amlarem, Abhilash Baranwal, said that he had held a meeting with various stakeholders and particularly people from the nine villages who are opposing the dumping of garbage at Mynkjai and stressed that they should put their faith on the government’s efforts to find an alternative landfill site.
Baranwal also revealed that the state government has already selected a site at Moodymai village.
“I have requested them to give the government an opportunity to develop the new landfill site. In the meantime, they should allow dumping of garbage at the present site,” he stated.
According to him, the villagers have sought time saying they need to discuss the matter with the village Dorbar to allow dumping of garbage at Mynkjai.
When asked about the agreement which was signed in 2017 that the landfill site would be utilised for 20 years, Baranwal said that he cannot make a comment since he was yet to examine the agreement.
He, however, said that the villagers had told him that they have been opposing this project since it was made operational in 2017.
“We are trying our level best to find a solution that is reasonable, amiable and acceptable to all,” the SDO (Civil) Amlarem said.
Meanwhile, JMB Chief Executive Officer, PK Boro, said that the Board has stopped collecting garbage from various localities of Jowai town following the resistance by nine villages.
Nonetheless, he said that the administration is hopeful that this issue would be resolved at the earliest.
