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A detailed report regarding the proposed waste processing and disposal plant was filed by the state government before the high court during the hearing in a PIL on the issue of garbage disposal in Jowai.
The State government of Meghalaya recently informed the Meghalaya High Court that solid waste processing and disposal plant of 10 TPD at Khliehriat at an estimated cost of Rs.13.37 crore will be ready by the end of November 2023.
In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by the Synjuk Ki Waheh Shnong Jowai pertaining to the menace of garbage piling up in Jowai, before the bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W. Diengdoh, a report dated September 13, 2022, on behalf of the State was submitted.
As per the report, a proposal has been finalised for the construction of solid waste processing and disposal plant at Khliehriat which will cater to the needs of both Jowai and Khliehriat, the district headquarters of West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hills respectively.
The report further stated that invitations have also been issued for expression of interest and such process should be completed by the beginning of October, 2022.
Taking note of the time frame as stated in the report, court opined that "if the State’s latest report is to be given credence, the initial steps for setting up the solid waste processing and disposal plant should have been completed by the end of the first week of November 2022".
Accordingly, court posted the matter on November 7, 2022 to ascertain whether the initial steps, as stated by the State, have been taken and the work for setting up the plant has been awarded.
The present PIL pertains to the menace of garbage piling up in one of the major towns in the State, Jowai.
In May this year, the court had observed that though this is a matter where there can be no judicial solution, "it will not hesitate to issue directions that may be harsh for both the State and local administration, if public life is endangered as a result of any apathy to take appropriate steps on the part of the authorities who are responsible therefor".
Court had noted that while the petitioner complained that household garbage keeps piling up in homes in Jowai without any mechanism being in place for its removal, the Jowai Municipal Board submitted that garbage from the streets and market-places is being regularly removed in trucks and taken to the temporary site.
To this, the court had ordered that the household garbage be also removed simultaneously with the removal of garbage from the streets and the market-places as garbage cannot be allowed to pile up, whether in public places or individual homes, till the solid waste management system is put in place.
Case Title: Synjuk Ki Waheh Shnong Jowai Vs. State of Meghalaya & ors
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