SHILLONG, APR 13: The state government has sought a month’s time to complete the report for implementing the solid waste management project at the proposed new landfill at Sabah Muswang, about 15 km from Jowai.
Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh informed this to a delegation of the Federation of Khasi-Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) central body and Jaintia hills who met her on Wednesday.
“The minister informed that the project report would be complete within a month time,” FKJGP central body DC Khongsit told reporters after the meeting.
He also said that the government is also contemplating to seek financial assistance from the centre under Swachh Bharat Mission for the project.
According to him, earlier the state government had already submitted a proposal in 2008 for implementing the scientific method of solid waste management at an estimated cost of Rs 3 crore.
The revised estimate for the project will only be known after the report is completed but it is expected to be much higher than the earlier proposal due to time and cost overrun.
“We urged the government to speed up the process of completing the report in view of the increasing population of the Jowai town,” Khongsit said. He informed that the temporary landfill at Makjai where tons and tons of wastes are being collected and dumped has become saturated.
“We have also demanded the government to construct retaining wall at the temporary landfill to ensure that the river located nearby do not get polluted,” he said.
Meanwhile, the issue pertaining to the salaries of the employees of the Jowai Municipal Board was also taken up during the meeting.
The FKJGP has demanded the government to find out ways and means to pay the salaries of JMB employees.
When asked, Khongsit informed that the failure of the JMB to pay the salaries of the employees is due to fact that the revenue generated is too less compared to expenditure.
While the total expenditure is to the tune of Rs 3.3 crore including pending salary of Rs 1.6 crore, the JMB is generating revenue of only Rs 23.90 lakh, he said.
The FKJGP leader said that the minister has assured the delegation that the government would take up the issue despite providing Rs 56.81 as assistance to the JMB during 2015-16.- By Our Reporter
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