The State government has started the tender process for construction of the solid waste processing and disposal plant of 10 tons per day at Khliehriat, East Jaintia Hills at an estimated cost of over Rs 13 crore.
This was informed by the State government during the hearing of a PIL filed by Synjuk Ki Waheh Shnong Jowai in the Meghalaya High Court today.
However, the headmen’s body stated that while the plant may take considerable time to be constructed and, thereafter, start functioning, the woes of the residents in Jowai continue.
The Jowai Municipal Board told the court that arrangements have now been in place for several months to deal with the daily removal of garbage, both from the residential and the commercial complexes.
“Apparently, the arrangements made by the municipality may not be adequate. The municipality should ensure that steps are taken to remove and dispose of the garbage on a daily basis without piling up the same anywhere within the town limits or within any close distance from residential areas,” the division bench of the High Court said.
The High Court has fixed December 14 as the date for the next hearing on the matter. The court also asked the Jowai Municipal Board to indicate the short-term measures to be taken and also to file an affidavit detailing the steps to be taken till such time that the waste disposal plant is constructed.
Since the State sought permission to file documents pertaining to the tender process of waste disposal plant, the court directed that such documents should be filed by way of an affidavit before the matter is taken up at the next hearing.
