By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 19: The High Court of Meghalaya on Thursday disposed of a PIL pertaining to cleanliness in Jowai with several directions to the Jowai Municipal Board.
When the matter was taken up last on September 5, 2023, the petitioner was not represented and the court perceived that the problem complained of was possibly taken care of.
However, the petitioner was represented on Thursday. It was submitted that despite the court’s previous orders, there has been irregular collection of waste, particularly from residents in Jowai.
The Jowai Municipal Board, however, said the schedule indicated earlier is being adhered to.
The last order had recorded that the 10-TPD solid waste-management system, according to the state, had been completed to the extent of 70 per cent by then. Earlier reports filed by the state indicated that the waste disposal unit would be ready by the end of this calendar year.
The Additional Advocate General claimed that there is no delay in this regard and it is hoped that the waste disposal unit would be functional by the end of this year or, at the latest, within a week thereafter.
The court observed that since the monsoon has officially retreated from the state and there is less likelihood of the collected waste at any place flowing down, health hazards apprehended earlier may no longer be a risk.
“However, the Jowai Municipal Board, which has been somewhat lacking in its performance, should ensure that the schedule submitted in Court is strictly adhered to and waste is collected both from residential and commercial units till such time that a new system is put in place upon the waste disposal unit being commissioned,” a division bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W Diengdoh said in an order.
The order said the PIL appeared to have worked itself out but if there is any deficiency on the part of the Jowai Municipal Board, the petitioner or any other person affected may approach the court.
The court directed the government to ensure that the Jowai Municipal Board adheres to the schedule and that there is no piling up of garbage or waste at any place in Jowai till the waste disposal unit is commissioned.
“Once the relevant unit becomes functional, the State, in conjunction with the Jowai Municipal Board, will work out modalities for waste from different parts of the Jowai town to be reached to the unit and places where local residents and commercial entities may dump their waste for such waste to be ferried to the disposal unit. Such plan should be chalked out in course of the next month so that it can be implemented from day one of the commissioning of the unit,” the order further said.
