SHILLONG:
The Meghalaya High Court on Tuesday heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) of complaints of household waste and general garbage not being collected in the Jowai urban township area from February 4.
The Division Bench of the High Court consisting of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W Diengdoh, stated that photographs, said to be recently taken and appended to the petition, revealed a nasty state of affairs.
The high court stated that the prayers in the petition are for regular garbage collection and efficient waste disposal system.
The bench also stated that though the state has been served and is represented, it is submitted that the responsibility for garbage collection and waste-management is of the third respondent council and the fifth respondent municipality.
“Let the respondent Nos. 3 to 5 be served immediately and informed that the matter will appear a week hence for a preliminary hearing and appropriate directions,” he added.
The High Court also said that in the meantime, every attempt should be made by the third and fifth respondents to ensure the proper collection of uncollected garbage and its appropriate disposal in accordance with law.
The next hearing in this case will be on April 20.