SHILLONG, April 24: Jowai is in a fix because of the waste management crisis, but the town’s garbage is nonetheless disposed of at a certain location by the Jowai Municipal Board (JMB), of which even the JHADC is apparently unaware.
JHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Thombor Shiwat on Monday said the Council is oblivious about the location where garbage from Jowai is currently being dumped.
“We are also clueless like the residents of Jowai town since the municipal board is not disclosing where they are dumping the garbage presently,” JHADC CEM Shiwat told reporters.
The CEM aired concern on behalf of the Council over the delay in the identification of the permanent landfill for Jowai. He also mentioned that the state government has from time to time sought the Council’s help in finding a site for the permanent landfill.
The Council is still looking for a suitable site, the JHADC chief said.
“We have received proposal of three sites as of now. We will need to inspect these sites and if the people agree, then we will have no problem to give an NOC to enable the government to acquire the land,” Shiwat said.
The council, he said, is ready to work closely with the state government to find a permanent solution to the crisis.
The Urban Affairs department last week had decided to float a new Expression of Interest (EoI) for the identification of the permanent landfill site for Jowai town.
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Urban Affairs department, Sniawbhalang Dhar, had said that the decision comes in the wake of the proposed plots of land being dissatisfactory and not up to the mark.
He had reminded that the department had floated advertisements and interested landowners had submitted their applications.
“However, most of the lands are not feasible (for setting up of a permanent landfill site),” Dhar said, adding that the fresh EoI will be floated next week.
