In what is seen as a temporary solution to the garbage problem in Jowai, a coal trader has offered his coal mine to be used as landfill site for one month.
However, the move was opposed by Sutnga Elaka which said it did not want to become the garbage dump of anybody.
Damewanhi Rymbai, the Assistant Waheh Chnong of Moolamylliang village in East Jaiñtia Hills has offered his 200-feet deep coal mine for dumping of wastes that are now piling up along the roads in Jowai.
The used coal mine is located in a place known as Pymsymro in the outskirts of Moolamylliang village.
An agreement has been signed between Rymbai and the Jowai Municipal Board today on the matter in the presence of West Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner Garod L S N Dykes and Jowai Municipal Board Chief Executive Officer Baiantimon Blah.
But hours after the agreement was signed, the Joint Village Defence Party of Sutnga Elaka said it would not allow any attempt to dump the wastes of Jowai in Moolamylliang which falls under Sutnga Elaka.
“If Damewanhi Rymbai wants to offer his land for dumping of the garbage, he should do so in his own place at Wapung but not at Moolamylliang which falls under Sutnga Elaka,” said a press release issued by Pynbait Sutnga, Secretary, Joint Village Defence Party of Sutnga Elaka.
It also said that any vehicles ferrying wastes for dumping at any part of Sutnga Elaka would be detained and drivers would be punished.
Meanwhile, the Jaiñtia Students’ Union (JSU) has decided to hold a public meeting on April 22 at 11 am near the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Jowai to discuss on the accumulating garbage that have not been lifted for the last two months at Iawmusiang, Iawthymme Ladthalaboh.
Stating that it could no longer watch the deteriorating situation, the JSU has appealed to residents of Jowai and local shopkeepers to attend the meeting and give their views on ways and means to address the problem.
