Shillong, March 29 : The Government of Meghalaya convened a meeting on Saturday through the office of the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills District to discuss the proposal for establishing an ‘Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility’ in Nonghali. Stakeholders from adjoining districts, including East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills, and Ri-Bhoi were present.
East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, RM Kurbah, said the meeting aimed to address concerns raised by community leaders regarding the sudden scheduling of a public hearing on April 2, 2025. “The village heads were unhappy because they were not informed beforehand,” Kurbah informed. She acknowledged that the information to conduct the public hearing had also reached her recently, leaving little time for preparation. Consequently, the hearing has been postponed to allow the villages to create awareness among their residents about the project.
Kurbah emphasized the importance of addressing local apprehensions about the project’s potential impact on the Wah Umkhen River, a vital water source. A one-month period has been allocated for awareness programs within the affected villages. During this time, officials from the Urban Affairs Department and the State Pollution Control Board will clarify doubts and provide further information. A follow-up meeting is scheduled a month later, aiming to set the groundwork for the public hearing.
When asked about the villagers’ skepticism, considering the poor management of the Marten landfill, Kurbah acknowledged past shortcomings. She noted that Marten was originally designed for a smaller population but now accommodates waste from Shillong’s growing population and nearby districts. She assured that the new landfill project in Nonghali would be scientifically managed to prevent such issues.
The meeting saw participation from Deingpasoh, Nonghali, and villages from Ri-Bhoi and West Jaintia Hills. The President of the Synjuk Nongshynshar Shnong Par Umkhen (SNSPU), Super Ryngaid, voiced concerns about the landfill’s proposed location atop a hill of the Wah Umkhen River.
He highlighted the river’s significance for drinking water, farming, and the region’s natural beauty. “We cannot risk polluting our main water source or ruining this beautiful river,” he stated. Ryngaid also expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s lack of prior notice about the hearing and called for proper agreements to ensure transparency.
It is worth noting that earlier this year, a public hearing on the same project had to be called off after villagers from 15 affected areas blocked access to the venue in protest.
Present at the meeting were representatives from the Urban Affairs Department, Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, Shillong Municipal Board, Additional Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills, and the Block Development Officer of Mawryngkneng.
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