President of the civic group, Khooid Ya Ka Wah Myntdu, Khroo L Pariat today said that the district council land situated at Pangit in Khliehtyrshi is not suitable for dumping of garbage as it would pollute the farmlands and a river there.
Pariat said the decision would have an adverse impact to the environment as the identified site lies on top of a hill and below it are vast stretches of farmland and the river Mynkrem, which flows towards Myntdu river.
The JHADC, the district administration and Jowai Municipal Board in a meeting held on April 20 had decided that the council land situated at Pangit in Khliehtyrshi, about 2kms from the Shillong-Jowai road, will be used as a temporary dumping site.
“This decision will be hazardous to the environment without proper waste management plan,” Pariat said, adding, “Even the fouls smell that would emanate if the site is used for dumping would be unbearable.”
Residents of Khliehtyrshi had stood up against the decision by blocking roads and sent back trucks loaded with garbage on April 23 even as section 144 CrPC was imposed to forestall any attempt to disrupt the dumping of garbage from Jowai in Pangit.
The protest was successful after trucks had to again unload the collected garbage back.