Dumping of fly ash
By Our Reporter
Shillong: The members of youth organizations protesting against illegal dumping of fly ash along the national highways have withdrawn their 48-hour deadline following the State government’s assurance to fulfill their demand within a week’s time.
A day after the youths staged a sit-in-demonstration at IGP Point near AIR Shillong here on Wednesday, Chief Secretary WMS Pariat on Thursday assured a delegation of agitators that the matter would be looked into seriously.
“We have withdrawn the deadline following the assurance from the government,” Sajeki Passah, the leader of the delegation, told reporters after the meeting with Pariat.
The youths from Jaintia Hills and East Khasi Hills districts has been demanding imposition of ban on illegal dumping of fly ash and other waste materials along National Highways.
“The discussion with Pariat was fruitful and he had given positive response to our demands”, Passah said.
Passah claimed that the Chief Secretary even agreed that dumping of fly ashes should be stopped as it affects lives of people, Myntdu River, paddy fields etc.
Following several complaints, Passah said, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) recently sought a report from the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) on this issue.
According to the investigation reports submitted by the MSPCB last year, it was clear that there was dumping of fly ash from Mawlyngngad, East Khasi Hills till 7th Mile, Jaintia Hills.
Following the report, the MSPCB has directed all cement plants operating in Jaintia Hills to take necessary actions to see that their transporters do not dump fly ash bags on the roadside.
Accordingly, Section 144 CrPC was promulgated in Jaintia Hills prohibiting the dumping of fly ash along the highway. “But, dumping of fly ash is still going on,” Passah said.
