SHILLONG, Aug 31: The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to submit a report within 10 days to indicate the timeframe for setting up of a compost plant and the assistance being given to the local municipal board to deal with the garbage problem in Jowai, the district headquarters of West Jaintia Hills.

The order was passed by the two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W Diengdoh after hearing a PIL filed by the Synjuk Ki Waheh Shnong Jowai.

“The matter will appear 10 days hence for the State to indicate by way of a report to be filed by any responsible officer of the time-frame within which the compost plant may be set up and the manner in which the State may render assistance to the local Municipal Board to deal with the garbage problem till then,” the order said.

The State had informed the court that it is proposed to set up a compost plant in or near Jowai to deal with the garbage problem in that town.

The petitioner however complained that garbage has started piling up all over again and the earlier measures taken need to be revived to rid Jowai town of the rubbish.

The order said that whatever future plans may be in place, immediate measures must necessarily be taken by the local Municipal Board to deal with the day to day problem of garbage piling up.

“It is not acceptable, particularly towards the end of the monsoon that garbage will be left in the streets or outside homes,” it said.

The court also directed the Municipal Board to find ways of dealing with the issues even as the State may plan a compost plant or other long-term measures for dealing with the issues.

The next hearing will be held on September 14.