Residents of Thangskai village today marched and staged a protest outside the Dalmia Cement Company in East Jaiñtia Hills to oppose plastic waste brought in from different parts of the State and others for disposal.
According to the dorbar shnong the company brings in wastes from Silchar, Guwahati, Mizoram, Agartala and other districts of the state and haphazardly dumped them in the area, which has become an eyesore with a terrible smell hanging in the air.
Following pressure from the residents, the dorbar and members of the Federation of Khasi Jaiñtia and Garo People (FKJGP) who protested for about five hours for its closure, the company unit head, C.P.Tiwari issued a letter to stop its RDF (refuse derived fuel) processing plant and halt operation of trucks ferrying the plastic wastes.
It may be mentioned that as per NGT orders Government and local authorities should insist that cement plants buy and use RDF as fuel in their respective plants.
Meanwhile, Tiwari told reporters that the company has availed clearance from the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board and an agreement was entered with the Shillong Municipal Board and the Guwahati Municipal Corporation to burn plastic waste. He said the company had also plans to have similar agreement with the Jowai Municipal Board and at Khliehriat too.
He said the company was not aware that it has to avail no objection from the dorbar as the plastic waste brought in is directly taken inside its premises for disposal.
Tiwari said that the company will ensure that these wastes are not haphazardly dumped and will be disposed in cement kilns in an environment-friendly manner that will also not put people’s life in danger.
