By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, July 14: Despite visible efforts by the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) and other concerned agencies, large parts of the city continue to grapple with a severe waste management crisis.
Rising garbage accumulation, clogged drains, and an overburdened landfill system have prompted a multi-pronged response from both authorities and citizens. However, the problem remains deeply entrenched across various localities.
While some private entities have recently installed dustbins in select areas and the SMB has deployed workers to maintain cleanliness on certain streets, garbage piles remain a common sight throughout Shillong.
A walk along Bivar Road — which houses the residences of the High Court of Meghalaya judges and several Cabinet Ministers — reveals heaps of garbage dumped in the adjacent forested stretches. Shockingly, this area appears to have escaped the attention of the authorities, and no dustbins have been installed there either.
While the SMB has been active in maintaining cleanliness in areas like the Secretariat and Police Bazar, stretches like Bivar Road remain neglected. This highlights an uneven implementation of waste management measures across the city.
Shillong generates approximately 171 tonnes of solid waste daily, amounting to nearly 62,000 tonnes annually. The city’s only landfill at Marten is nearing full capacity, and efforts to identify alternative dumping sites have been slow and inadequate, putting immense pressure on the existing waste infrastructure.
The recently inaugurated Integrated Command and Control Centre under the Shillong Smart City Project is designed to include a Solid Waste Management System involving 50 GPS-enabled garbage trucks and around 200 smart bins. The system promises improved efficiency through algorithm-based route planning and biometric attendance tracking for waste collection personnel. However, such technological interventions are not yet visible on the streets of Shillong.
The problem of garbage accumulation is not limited to the city alone. Even the vicinity of the iconic Umiam Lake, a popular tourist destination, is witnessing increasing litter.
The overpass near the lake — frequented by locals and tourists alike, especially on Sundays — is strewn with garbage. Behind the temporary stalls set up in the area, heaps of trash are dumped openly, raising concerns that the waste could eventually make its way into the lake’s waters.
