The Deputy Commissioner of West Jaintia Hills has imposed Section 144 of the CrPC to forestall any attempt to disrupt the dumping of garbage from Jowai in Pangit, Khliehtyrshi.
On Wednesday, an emergency meeting was held between the Jowai Municipal Board, Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) and district administration where the JHADC agreed to allow for the temporary dumping of garbage on its land in Pangit.
Waste has been periodically piling up in Jowai for months as everytime the authorities settle on a new landfill, opposition from the local population invariably surfaces and makes it impossible for the site to be used.
Massive amounts of garbage have clogged Jowai’s streets, especially the market hubs of Iawmusiang and Iawthymme, which has produced an awful stench, eyesore and health hazard.
To try and ensure that the dumping at Pangit goes off without opposition, the DC banned the gathering of more than five people within 2km of the site and warned that anyone trying to stop the authorities from dumping garbage there will be prosecuted.
In addition, the public have been banned from carrying arms, ammunition or “any lethal weapons” within a 2km radius of the site.
Meanwhile people from Elaka Sutnga led by the Hima Sutnga Youth Federation and the Joint Village Defence Party Elaka Sutnga gathered at Sookilo in East Jaiñtia Hills to stall attempts of the Jowai Municipal Board to dump waste in their area this evening.
East Jaiñtia Hills ADC S.S.Syielieh and police officials were present at the site to ensure that no law and order problem breaks out.
According to the leaders of the Elaka, trucks carrying garbage were seen in Ladrymbai area and had to return with the load back to Jowai.
People are up against the agreement entered between the municipal board and the assistant waheh chnong of Moolamylliang, Damewanhi Rymbai after he had offered his 200-feet deep coal mine to dump the waste in Moolamylliang. They said that they don’t want to become the garbage dump of anybody.
