SHILLONG, April 24: The Dorbar Shnong of Iawmusiang has decided to impose a 36-hour lockdown of the largest market in Jowai Town to thwart residents from dumping garbage.
The 36-hour lockdown will be enforced from 6 am on Tuesday till 6 pm on Wednesday.
Iawmusiang Rangbah Shnong, Ajoy Lywait told The Shillong Times that the decision to impose the lockdown was taken on Saturday in view of an outbreak of diarrhoea and emesis (vomiting) among residents of the Town due to the foul smell emanating from the piles of garbage dumped at Iawmusiang.
“Many residents are feeling unwell due to the foul smell and many have been suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting,” the Rangbah Shnong said.
He asked the state government to take immediate steps to remove the garbage from the market and the roadside.
The government should not allow this issue to linger since people have suffered long enough, he pointed out.
“We expect the Jowai Municipal Board (JMB) to clear the garbage during the lockdown period,” he added.
Earlier on Friday, members of the village defence party of Elaka Sutnga had prevented dumper trucks from unloading garbage in the abandoned coal mines owned by Damewanhi Rymbai, the assistant Waheh Chnong of Moolamylliang village.
The garbage was later brought back and re-dumped at the same place from where it had been cleared.
It was alleged that Rymbai had signed an agreement with JMB for dumping of garbage in his abandoned coal mines without consulting the leaders of Elaka Sutnga.
The Elaka Sutnga had written to the West Jaintia Hills deputy commissioner expressing their opposition to dumping of garbage in the abandoned coal mines.