Shillong, Jan 9: A public hearing on the proposed setting up of a new landfill at Nonghali village under Mawryngkneng constituency in East Khasi Hills district was halted following vehement protest by people from 15 villages on Thursday.

Officials of the district administration and the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MPSCB) were stopped by agitating villagers from proceeding towards the venue for conducting the public hearing amid heavy security deployment.

Armed with placards, the protesters from the 15 villages expressed their strong opposition against the state government’s attempt to shift the Marten to their area.

A leader of the Synjuk Ki 15 Shnong (Villages) said, “This is a clear message to the government from the people of Nonghali and the surrounding villages that we will not allow it to bring Marten to our area. Therefore, the government is advised to immediately halt its proposal to shift the Marten to our area.”

“We also urge the government to instead find a suitable location, which will not affect the health of the people and the water bodies,” he said.

The leader also alleged, “Despite the fact that there are many other locations for setting up of a landfill, the government is insisting on the land at Nonghali based  on its connection that will only benefit somebody.”

“Therefore, this is a clear message to the government that it should stop immediately from attempting to get land for shifting the Marten in our area,” he added.

After hearing the protesters, the presiding officer for the public hearing K Umdor said, “We have decided to call off the public hearing since we were stopped by protesters from proceeding to the venue.”

“We have noted down all the points and we requested all of them (protesters) to go back to their respective villages and resolve their issues so that we can conduct another public hearing,” she said.

ADC incharge law and order P Passah said that the present situation is not conducive for conducting the public hearing.

“We have tried to make them (protesters) understand that the public hearing is being conducted not for taking any decision to proceed ahead with the proposal but also to give a chance to those, who are opposing the proposal, for giving their views and opinions so that the department concerned especially the pollution control board can take a decision after hearing from those who are for and those who are against (the proposal). However, since the situation does not allow us to proceed with the public hearing since people are coming (out to protest), it may create unnecessary problems,” he said.

“Accordingly, the village concerned has sought time to resolve the matter before coming back to us in regards to the public hearing,” he stated.

Earlier, S Syiem from MSPCB said that teams were stopped by protesters before they could even reach the venue for conducting the public hearing. He informed the protesters that all procedures have been adhered to by both district administration and the MSPCB for holding the proposed public hearing by issuing notice thirty-days ahead of the scheduled date.

“We have also invited all stakeholders to submit their views and opinions. However, when we reached here there was a stiff opposition from a few villages who stopped us from proceeding towards the venue of the public hearing. We have ADC incharge law and order and he said that the situation is not advisable for us to go to the venue,” he said.

The Urban Affairs department has decided to set up a new landfill after the lifespan of the dumping ground at Marten in Mawlai Mawiong has expired. The 18 acres site at Marten has been in use by the Shillong Municipal Board since 1938.

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