By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 7: Amid state’s tussle for a new landfill site, the government has announced that an intensive drive has been launched to identify and acquire sites for establishing state-of-the-art waste management facilities under the State Waste Management Strategy and Policy, 2019.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS) 2025 campaign on Tuesday, Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla said the State is fully committed to scientific waste management and environmental conservation. He said waste collection efficiency has improved from below 50% in 2019 to 83% in 2025, segregation at source from 30% to 70%, and processing capacity from 2% to 68%.
Processing plants have been established in all urban towns with a combined capacity of 215 tons per day, converting biodegradable waste into compost and recycling non-degradable waste.
Shylla added that of the 6.13 lakh tons of legacy waste accumulated at old dumpsites, 2.23 lakh tons have already been processed in Marten and Tura, with bio-mining operations set to begin soon in other towns.
He added that the government is strengthening Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) through training, enhanced collection systems, and upgraded processing infrastructure.
The minister noted that Meghalaya, one of the first states to adopt a Zero Waste Policy in 2019, now has individual city solid waste and sanitation action plans approved under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
With tourism on the rise and the National Games 2027 approaching, the state has rolled out several initiatives, including Mission Clean Shillong 2027, Mission Zero Litter, and the My City Campaign, to engage citizens in maintaining cleanliness. Fences have also been installed along 6.3 km of the Umkhrah and Umshyrpi rivers to prevent waste dumping.
Acknowledging the Rs 100 crore penalty imposed earlier by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Shylla said the state has made “remarkable improvements” in waste management despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He congratulated the Jowai and Shillong Municipal Boards for achieving ODF-Plus status and highlighted Shillong’s inclusion among the top 25 promising cities in the national Swachh rankings.
On the other hand, the minister also honoured sanitation workers, calling them “the unsung heroes of cleanliness,” and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a clean, litter-free Meghalaya.
The ceremony was attended by Chief Secretary Dr P. Shakil Ahammed, Urban Affairs Secretary WAM Booth Shadap, Shillong Municipal Board CEO P.K. Boro, and several traditional leaders.
