SHILLONG, July 6: The state government is going in full swing to identify a new landfill site.
This was informed by Urban Affairs Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar after a meeting with a youth organisation from Mawlai Pyllun on Tuesday.
Addressing media persons after the meeting, Dhar said the organisation petitioned him for a new landfill site at the earliest.
“I have told them that the government is in the process of identifying a new landfill site. We are going in full swing to identify it,” he said.
According to the minister, 5-6 applications have been submitted so far for the proposed landfill sites out of which his department has conducted inspections of 2-3 sites.
Dhar also informed that he is awaiting a report from his officers. “There will be no hurdle and once I get the report, I will decide immediately,” the Urban Affairs minister said.
Informing that he will consult with the concerned stakeholders before deciding on the new landfill site, Dhar said, “If people don’t want a landfill, we look for a new site.”
It may be mentioned that the Seng Samla had called on the Urban Affairs Minister on Tuesday, and said that the locals from Mawlai are gripped by apprehensions due to the health hazards posed by the solid waste management at Marten and the biomedical waste adjacent to it.
They also expressed concern over garbage trucks from Jaintia Hills reportedly coming all the way to dump the garbage at Marten in Mawlai.
Only recently, there was commotion over garbage from Jowai reportedly being dumped at Mawlai Marten.
Even Opposition Chief Whip and Mawlai MLA, PT Sawkmie, had taken strong exception on the matter.
Sawkmie had petitioned the CEO of Shillong Municipal Board as well as the East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police.
He maintained that such practice would only make the situation at the marten worse.
