SHILLONG:
It seems the government is left with no option but to seek High Court’s intervention to solve the garbage issue at Mynkjai, a temporary landfill about 11 km from Jowai.
“If people continue to oppose dumping of garbage at despite an agreement still being valid, we will have to seek legal recourse to resolve the issue,” said Sniawbhalang Dhar, Urban Affairs minister, on April 19.
Dhar further added that the agreement clearly states that “it will remain in force for 20 years from the date of execution of the agreement and which may be extended subject to the fulfillment of the terms and conditions by the second party”.
Dhar added that the sudden decision to stop allowing garbage to be dumped at Mynkjai was taken despite “an agreement” being legally valid. “They should have given some time to the government (for arranging an alternative landfill site),” he said. “The department will submit its report before the court on what actually is happening on the ground,” the minister added.
On April 12, the Meghalaya High Court had directed the Jaintia Hill Autonomous District Council (JHADC) and the Jowai Municipal Board (JMB) to ensure proper collection of uncollected garbage in Jowai, the district headquarter of West Jaintia Hills.
Today, tons of garbage are piling up at Iawmusiang market ever since six villages opposed the district authorities, including the Jowai Municipal Board, from dumping garbage at Mynkjai.
Dhar also appealed to all stakeholders, including traditional heads and NGOs, to take a collective responsibility to solve the problem.
“We need the support of everybody. I personally request everyone to let us take this issue seriously. I request the support of the headmen, the public; they should not panic, as we are coming up with a purely scientific waste management as per the NGT order,” said Dhar, on Tuesday, urging the people not to politicise the issue.
Stating that there is no timeframe given to the department to resolve the issue, he said, “This is a serious issue so no time frame. We will try to complete (the process of acquiring land) at the earliest possible.”
Echoing Dhar, Jowai legislator Wailadmiki Shylla, on Tuesday, said that the concerned authorities are scouting for sites to set up a scientific waste disposal ground in Jowai, but are facing stiff opposition from the public.
“Everywhere we go, there are people who are against it. From our side we are trying our level best,” the Jowai MLA said.
Shylla further informed that the opposition by the public to a garbage dumping site is mainly because they feel that the disposal of waste would be unscientific.
“The government has given the assurance that it will provide funds to do scientific waste disposal,” Shylla said, adding that apart from the land belonging to the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, three to four more sites are being explored by the concerned authorities.
Shylla also said that people from outside Jowai town feel that the garbage emanating from Jowai is from the residents of the town, but what they don’t realise is that the garbage is from the markets they visit and litter.
“From our side we are trying to make them understand and spreading awareness in this regard,” Shylla said, exuding confidence that soon the government will be able to resolve the issue once and for all.