SHILLONG, March 09: The matter of uncleared garbage from Jowai city due to the lack of a proper site for garbage disposal created another uproar in the Budget Session of the State which is ongoing, with the matter being raised again today during the question hour following a long discussion held yesterday.
The UDP MLA from Mookaïaw, Nujorki Sungoh raised the question in the Assembly seeking to know what the Government plans to do if it does not find a site for garbage disposal. Responding to this question, the Minister incharge of the Urban Affairs Department,Sniawbhalang Dhar informed that a temporary site for the disposal of garbage has been procured in Moochutsdai, while informing that on the 4th of this month, a Public Hearing was also held to convert the temporary site to a permanent site of garbage disposal, and with regard to this, the department is awaiting a report from the Deputy Commissioner of West Jaiñtia Hills.
In presenting an additional question, the UDP MLA said that the Minister had clearly stated that no solid waste project will be started without public approval but as it is,up till now, 800 trucks of garbage has been disposed by Jowai Municipal Board in the aforementioned site even though the public are against it.
On the other hand, the MLA of Mawsynram, H.M Shangpliang who raised a special discussion yesterday said that the Minister in the Assembly yesterday had promised to clear all the uncleared garbage yesterday itself, but the fact is till this morning no action as such was taken to clear anything. In response to this criticism of the AITC MLA, the Minister promised to have all the garbage cleared from Jowai city this evening itself.
Furthermore, Dhar has urged the public to not be against providing sites for garbage disposal as the department will not be careless in the management of the solid waste so as to allow for any harmful effects on the public, and the solid waste will be managed as per the Solid Waste Management Rule, 2016.
