The public hearing for the proposed new landfill scheduled at Nonghali was put off today after residents of 15 nearby villages rallied together to oppose the government’s plan.
Fifteen villages in Ri-Bhoi, East Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills have come under the umbrella of the Synjuk ki Nongsynshar Shnong Par Umkhen (SNSPU), to oppose the proposal to set up a new landfill to cater to Greater Shillong at Nonghali. A new site is overdue as the existing Marten dumping ground is continuing to be used despite exceeding its intended lifespan.
Additional Magistrate Jacinta M. Umdor announced the suspension of the public hearing in order to maintain peace and order. She said efforts will be made to resolve the concerns of the villages before rescheduling the public hearing.
Syiem further clarified that proper procedures were followed, including issuing a public notification in Khasi and English newspapers 20 days prior to the event. However, resistance from several villages disrupted the plans, forcing the authorities to defer the hearing.
The SNSPU is against the project because the proposed site is just a few metres away from the Umkhen River, which is used as an important water source for the 15 villages.
Earlier, the people blocked the road leading to the venue of the public hearing holding placards and banners to register their strong opposition to the proposed landfill project.
The crowd halted officials of the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), magistrates, and police from entering the village.
