SHILLONG, Sep 13: Aiming to foster better coordination in the attempts to clean up the rivers in and around Shillong, East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo on Tuesday chaired a meeting with the Rangbah Shnong of Nongmensong, Umpling, Nongrah, Lapalang, KHADC Deputy Secretary Andy Basaiawmoit, Environmental Engineer from Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board S Syiem, the Shillong Municipal Board, members of Operation Clean-Up (OCU) and My Shillong, My Pride. The Rangbah Shnong of Rynjah and team were not present at the meeting.
The main purpose of the meeting was to brainstorm on how to prevent dumping of garbage into rivers and also release of septic tanks, effluents from garages and other manufacturing units in the various localities. The two-hour long meeting saw a free and frank discussion on what actually hampered efforts at keeping the rivers clean.
Team leader Patricia Mukhim and vice-president Jiwat Vaswani represented OCU. The two expressed their gratitude to the DC and Rangbah Shnongs and others present for the spirit of cooperation. Vaswani told the House that the reason why the team was concerned about the cleanliness of the city and its rivers is because they are answerable to the future generation. “What kind of future are we leaving behind for our children? How can we answer them if we don’t try and do out bit for the environment?” Vaswani queried.
Rangbah Shnong of Nongmensong D Kurbah suggested that CCTV cameras be put up at vantage points so that polluters can be tracked and fined. He also suggested that the schools located in and around Nongmensong be actively involved in environmental lessons so that they can go back and teach their parents and neighbours.
Rangbah Shnong of Umpling Dorbar SF Pyngrope suggested that cleaning of rivers should begin upstream. He said that the OCU team should have started their cleaning drive further up the source of the Umkaliar. To this, Vaswani said the team was willing to undertake a clean-up anywhere provided they had the cooperation of the respective Dorbar Shnong.
Environment Engineer S Syiem admitted that keeping surveillance over the entire state is a huge challenge and said that if residents also report violations it is easier to tackle the problems.
Wompher Shadap, Community Coordinator working under the State Investment Project Management and Implementation Unit (SIPMIU) of the Shillong Municipal Board, made a presentation of the proposed plan under the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 (2022-2026) and how those objectives are to be achieved. Amongst the several objectives is the proposal to construct ten waste recovery centres in those Dorbar Shnong that can allocate a plot for the purpose.
The DC said: “Waste recovery centres are intended to reduce the load on Marten. One such centre at Umpling has been doing very well and has become a model for different Dorbars. What we call waste can be a resource for those who know the value of that waste. That is how many self help groups at Marten are earning their livelihoods by segregating waste that can be recycled.”
Laloo also informed that conversion of insanitary toilets to septic tanks especially for people living along the rivers would be undertaken. However, she stated that the government alone will not be able to undertake this onerous task and families that can afford to should be able to contribute to this process.
On the issue of no-objection certificates being issued to automobile workshops and other units within the Shnong, the Rangbah Shnong of Umpling said that the NOC is merely to facilitate the entrepreneurs in their onward journey and not blanket permission. The entrepreneurs have to fulfil the norms of the Pollution Control Board and other agencies.
What was hotly debated at the meeting was also that the Dorbar Shnong were not authorised to impose fines on violators and polluters such as those that wash their vehicles in rivers etc. To this the KHADC deputy secretary said that the Council had passed the Solid Waste Management Act 2020, which empowers the Dorbar Shnong and Rangbah Shnong to levy fines on waste generators that fail to comply with the provisions of the Act and who continue to “throw, burn or bury the waste generated on streets, open public spaces outside his/her own premises or in the drain and water bodies.”
Armed with this Act, the Dorbar Shnong can now impose penalties on violators which includes especially those that throw garbage into rivers, he said.
The KHADC Solid Waste Management Act, 2020 is in fact a very comprehensive Act which if implemented in letter and spirit would reduce the reckless dumping of garbage.
Nongrah Rangbah Shnong, B Pyngrope expressed difficulties about enforcing the embargo on not littering the rivers or dumping garbage into the rivers since most of those residing by the riverside are tenants from other Shnongs and have no sense of being stakeholders. He also pointed out to the need for coordination among the Dorbar Shnong since one side of the river falls under one Shnong and the other side in the jurisdiction of another Shnong. “Both the Dorbar Shnong should strictly enforce the penalty. Only then will the effort succeed,” Pyngrope said. He also rued that the Rangbah Shnong of RR Colony was absent since the bulk of garbage released into the Umkaliar river comes from there.
An important point that was brought to the table by Pyngrope is that the building permission given by the Syiem of Mylliem is openly flouted by all home builders since there is no inspection and monitoring by the Syiem’s office. Some of the buildings have violated the height and also failed to adhere to the terms of keeping reasonable distance from the public and the neighbour’s boundary.
Later, the DC informed that schemes under the Smart City River Rejuvenation Project, bioremediation and faecal treatment would all be implemented in phases but it needed the active cooperation of the concerned Dorbar Shnong.
