By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 18: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council is in pursuit of innovation and ideas lying therein for proper management of solid waste with eye on revenue and employment generation, the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of KHADC, Pyniaid Sing Syiem, said on Monday.
He was speaking at a function where he handed over a garbage collection truck to Rynjah Dorbar Shnong, funded under the Chief Minister Special Development Fund for the year 2022-23.
Syiem enphasised that the role of the Council will not end with only facilitating the dumping of waste collected from various localities and markets within its jurisdiction.
Maintaining that waste disposal, if carefully managed, can help in generating revenue, he elucidated the waste collected from the different households, markets and public places can be converted into organic manure.
“Making money from waste is not only feasible but also environmentally responsible,” the KHADC CEM said.
Expressing concern over the rapid depletion of the Marten dumping ground, Syiem said that the Council is encouraging localities and villages to set up Resource Recovery Centres (RRCs) which could significantly reduce the load on existing waste dumping sites.
“We are giving this RRC to those localities and villages which can provide land. We also intend to create awareness on how these RRCs can help in generating income and employees through segregation and recycling of waste collected from the various households and markets,” the CEM said.
It may be mentioned that the Council has plans to set up around 10 RRCs and intends to increase their numbers depending on the successful implementation of the project.
The CEM urged the various Dorbar Shnongs to closely work with the Council to solve the problems surrounding solid waste management.
According to him, the Dorbar Shnongs will be able to regulate waste and garbage generated from the households within their localities by enforcing the rules framed by the Council under the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Solid Waste Management) Act, 2020.
He also announced that the Council will sanction Rs 20 lakh to Rynjah Dorbar Shnong to complete the construction of the community hall.
Others present on the occasion were veteran politician and MDC Bindo Mathew Lanong, Syiem of Hima Mylliem, Ainam Sing Syiem, Rangbah Shnong of Rynjah, Eddie War, and Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong Nongthymmai Pyllun (SKRSNP) president, Bantylli L Narry among others.