NONGPOH, Feb 4: Umroi legislator and Opposition Chief Whip, George B Lyngdoh, has moved Chief Minister Conrad Sangma over complaints of dissent to a proposed waste disposal site by locals at Raid Madan Kyrdem in Ri-Bhoi.
In a letter to the chief minister, the Opposition Chief Whip said that following a public hearing on January 8 by the district administration in the proposed site at Mawlwai, the residents of Raid Madan Kyrdem along with locals from adjoining areas have vehemently vented their opposition by flagging several hiccups in the project.
According to the Lyngdoh, there are apprehensions among the locals that water sources, which are nearby the proposed site, will be contaminated if authorities set the ball rolling for the project.
It may be mentioned that the water sources cater to nearby villages.
Stating that no awareness has been raised about the project, the villagers also dread loss of access to farm lands that lie near the proposed site.
Lyngdoh informed that the villagers are also apprehensive of the potential health and environmental hazards from the waste disposal sites beside reduction of the forest cover in the area.
Lyngdoh has, meanwhile, asked the chief minister to make him au courant not only with the project work but also with the feasibility/study report conducted by the department concerned.
He has also expressed his desire to know from the chief minister if the project will benefit the youths and farmers in particular, and the locals in general, of the area.
“It is in public expectations that any proposed project should be through proper public awareness with project feasibility and study at hand. Without these initiatives, the intent of finding alter waste disposal site will only end up in evoking public opposition and resentful outcome,” Lyngdoh said in the letter to the chief minister.