The Meghalaya High Court today said that Shillong city has become cleaner although rubble and rubbish, particularly construction materials, are dumped in a haphazard manner.
“There is no doubt that the city looks cleaner, though rubble and rubbish, particularly construction material, seem to be dumped in a haphazard manner. The State and the Shillong Municipal Board appear to have taken certain measures and the Cantonment Board has also been roped in for the purpose,” the division bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh observed during hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) regarding steps for cleanliness and hygienic conditions in and around Shillong.
“It is hoped that the State and the Shillong Municipal Board work in tandem and ensure that all parts of Shillong look spick and span as the areas under the supervision of the Cantonment Board,” the High Court added.
The High Court also said that awareness campaigns, in attractive packages, should be conducted in schools, particularly government schools where children from the less privileged sections of the society attend.
Calling for protection of water-bodies in and around the city, including Umkhrah river, the High Court also said that waterfalls and places around the same need to be protected, kept clean and the use of plastics, bottles and tetra packs around such places should be regulated or prohibited.
While disposing of the PIL, the High Court asked the appropriate authorities not to drop their guard “since any spirited individual may initiate further proceedings if the cleanliness drive that was a result of the present proceedings is on the wane”.
