SHILLONG, DEC 14: The construction of a permanent compost plant at Jowai, West Jaintia Hills District is expected to be completed within 395 days.
This was informed by the State in its affidavit filed before the Meghalaya High Court, which heard a PIL pertaining to the garbage issue in Jowai, on Wednesday.
The Court said that the State has filed an affidavit indicating the settlement for obtaining land to set up a permanent compost plant. Timelines for the completion of the construction have also been roughly indicated. The plant is expected to be constructed within 395 days.
Meanwhile, the Synjuk Ki Waheh Shnong Jowai complains of the mounting waste in Jowai and its neighbourhood and the limited opportunities available for the disposal thereof.
According to the petitioner, both wet waste and dry waste from residential buildings are being collected only on a weekly basis.
The Jowai Municipal Board however informed that this procedure has been adopted pursuant to meetings held with the headmen and the local residents and there does not appear to be much grievance in such regard, considering that it is a temporary measure and the compost plant should be ready in about a year.
The Municipal Board also submitted that a separate agreement is in place with commercial bodies as to the collection of waste and the Municipal Board is alive to the fact that waste cannot be allowed to remain dumped at a particular place.
The Municipal Board informed the Court that collection centres have been opened where residents and others can dump the waste for it to be collected therefrom on a weekly basis.
The Court however said, “There is no doubt that the Jowai Municipal Board is doing the best that it can under the circumstances. However, it may be advisable to collect wet waste on three-day intervals rather than once a week.”
“The Jowai Municipal Board is requested to look into such aspect of the matter, particularly since wet waste includes uneaten or rotten food and the collection of the same leads both to foul odour and the possibility of disease in residential buildings,” it said.
The petitioner said that Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited has set up a co-processing unit at its cement plant near Lumshnong. It is suggested by the petitioner that if the plastic waste is segregated by the Municipal Board, Dalmia Cement is more than willing to collect the same and use it in their industrial process.
The petitioner submits that it will relieve the Municipal Board of the burden of disposing of plastic waste. It would be best if the petitioner takes the initiative for a meeting to be held between the Jowai Municipal Board and representatives of Dalmia Cement, under the aegis of the representative of the State at the local level for some kind of mechanism to be worked out by which the waste that can be used at the plant of Dalmia Cement can be segregated and the Municipal Board is relieved of the burden of disposing of the same.
Since the petitioner said that Dalmia Cement has entered into an agreement with the Shillong Municipal Board in such regard, the Jowai Municipal Board should explore possibilities of entering into a similar arrangement as expeditiously as possible.
Meanwhile, the Court has directed the Jowai Municipal Board to file a status report on the matter. The next hearing will be held on January 31.
By Our Reporter
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