Shillong’s dumping ground of Marten, in Mawlai, has seen some improvements of late, to the satisfaction of the Seng Samla Mawlai Pyllun.
He SSMP visited the site today along with Shillong Municipal Board officials where they saw how the compost plant, which began functioning in October, works.
SSMP president Samuel Biam said that the SMB has taken initiatives and these can be seen on the ground.
This is quite a change from last year when the youth organisation locked the Marten gate furious at the leakage of waste, which they feared could be an environmental and health hazard. Urban Affairs Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar assured the body that action would be taken and the SSMP was included in a monitoring committee.
Today, the SSMP went as far as expressing willingness to help the department spread awareness among people in order to convince them to agree to give their lands for new landfills.
“The compost plant has started functioning and we take all waste collected from the city, process it and the biodegradable waste is turned into compost and organic rejects or other waste are taken out,” Executive Engineer FB Chyne said.
He also informed that SMB entered into an MoU with Dalmia Cements Ltd where these organic rejects will be taken to plants located in Lumshnong, East Jaintia Hills, to be used by the factory.
Asked if the problem at Marten has been resolved, Chyne said that waste is a continuous problem but “we are improving day by day. We’re trying to reduce the problem, like the smell emitting from this landfill.”
He also said that to avoid waste flowing into Umiam River, the SMB has constructed a retaining wall.
