Meghalaya HC directs Jowai headmen to identify waste collection points

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 7, 2023

The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday directed the Synjuk Ki Waheh Shnong, Jowai to indicate pick-up locations in each locality for collection of waste by the municipal trucks.

In its order passed after hearing a PIL filed by the Synjuk, the division bench said there is some positive development in the matter and, pursuant to a meeting held on May 26, 2023 between representatives of the Jowai Municipality and the local headmen, certain agreed points have emerged.

The Jowai Municipal Board has agreed to modify the schedule for waste collection. The Synjuk Ki Waheh Shnong, Jowai has agreed to suggest two or three locations in every locality which will be identified as pick-up points.

Such exercise for identification of the locations was to be completed by May 31, 2023, but may not have yet been done.

“The Synjuk Ki Waheh Shnong, Jowai should indicate the relevant pick-up locations in each locality, which are accessible to trucks, in course of this week so that the Municipal Board can assign trucks at designated hours on specified days to the identified locations in each locality,” the bench said.

“In addition, each locality is to nominate one person to sign the register on the day of waste collection as per schedule. This is necessary to avoid any future dispute as to whether the schedule is being adhered to or pick-up vans are being assigned to the identified locations in every locality.

The petitioner should intimate the names and mobile numbers of the nominated persons in each locality to the Jowai Municipal Board in course of this week,” it added.

The order said it was also resolved at the said meeting that information would be given by the Synjuk Ki Waheh Shnong to all localities that plastic wastes are to be kept separately for being handed over to the Jowai Municipal Board staff on the day of collection.

The Municipal Board has also agreed that any further information that needs to be disseminated to the residents in Jowai town will be forwarded to the President or Secretary of the Synjuk Ki Waheh Shnong Jowai for them to circulate such information to the residents.

The bench also directed that the Synjuk should take the lead in ensuring that the points agreed to at the relevant meeting are adhered to so that there is relief to the local residents and less chance of allegations being levelled of the Municipal Board not adhering to the disclosed schedule.

“The matter will come up next four weeks hence for both the petitioner and the Municipal Board to report on the status of waste collection and waste management in Jowai till such time that the permanent waste disposal system is set up,” it said.

The next hearing will be held on July 5.