SHILLONG, OCT 31: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Jowai Municipal Board (JMB) to prepare a comprehensive plan for establishment of sewerage network in Jowai town, the district headquarter of West Jaintia Hills, to prevent direct discharge of domestic & human wastes to the Myntdu River.
In its order issued recently on October 26, NGT eastern zone bench said, “We direct that the Jowai Municipal Board shall prepare a comprehensive plan for establishment of sewerage network in the town of Jowai to divert both domestic wastes as well as human wastes for treatment before being discharged to the river.”
It also directed the board to placed the detailed project report (DPR) prepared on this aspect before the bench ‘without fail’ before the next date of hearing fixed to be held on November 27.
It may be mentioned here that the petition on the pollution of Myntdu River was filed by Sajay Laloo, a resident of the town.
While granting more time to the state government to comply with the directions as per order passed on September 4, the NGT however expressed its disappointment in the manner in which the Jowai Municipal Board has been performing its duty.
“It is undisputed that all waste water and domestic wastes are being discharged directly to the river and thus far no action has been taken by them to lay the sewerage network to be led into the common sewerage treatment plant,” the bench stated.
The bench also pointed out that although Ankit Todi, Ld Counsel for the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB), made submissions to the contrary, it do not find any material on record in support of his contention which, in any case, do not reconcile with the submission of LD Chowdhury, Ld Counsel for the Board that the Board has sent a proposal for sanction of Rs 4 lakhs only to prepare the DPR for setting up a common sewerage treatment plant in Jowai Town.
The letter dated June 6, addressed to the Director, Urban Affairs, Meghalaya, written by the Chief Executive Officer, Jowai Municipal Board, has been placed before us by LD Chowdhury, who submits that no response has been received from the Director, Urban Affairs.
However, the bench directed the senior advocate for MUDA HS Thangkhiew to take up the matter with the department of Urban Affairs and to expedite the proposal in the larger public interest.
Meanwhile, the NGT also directed expeditious action to establish solid waste treatment plant in the area which would include both non-biodegradable solid waste and bio-degradable wastes, in consonance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and other rules cognate thereto.
Taking note that an action plan in this regard appears to have been set out in Annexure-D to the affidavit filed on behalf of the Jowai Municipal Board onJuly 25, as per the minutes of the meeting held on June 20, the bench directed that action taken report be filed before the next date of hearing.
Further, the bench also directed the MSPCB to inform on the action taken by them for enforcement of the Air and the Water Act in the Jowai Municipal Board area and also file an affidavit placing on record the compliance of the directions contained in the order dated September 4.
By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours