SHILLONG, SEPT 11: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the state government and the Jowai Municipal Board (JMB) to indicate as to whether common STPs have been constructed for treatment of domestic waste water before being discharged into the Myntdu river in the next hearing.
In its order issued on September 4, while hearing a petition filed by one Sajay Laloo, a resident of Jowai town, the NGT reminded that the case raises several vital issues pertaining to the river Myntdu in the areas falling under the JMB.
“The State and the JMB shall specifically indicate as to whether common Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) have been constructed in the Municipal area for treatment of domestic waste water before being discharged into the river,” it stated in the order.
The green tribunal also directed the state government to also state as to whether sewerage network has been established in the town of Jowai, which is the district headquarter of West Jaintia Hills.
The NGT has also maintained that the need to set up these facilities in Jowai Town cannot be avoided although the case of the JMB was that jurisdiction and authority to grant permission for any activity is the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC).
“Therefore, the State is directed to ensure that necessary clearances are obtained from the appropriate authority be it traditional or institutional,” it stated while directing the state and JMB to fail affidavit on these aspects before the next date.
The next date for hearing on the matter has been fixed on October 26.
During the hearing, the counsel for the petitioner has filed an affidavit in reply bringing about all the lapses and non compliances on the part of the state government.
The tribunal has allowed the petitioner to file reply to the affidavit filed by the government and also to give any comments and suggestion if any.
Meanwhile in a statement issued here, Sajay Laloo, the petitioner of the case said that hopefully with the intervention of NGT, Jowai will become the first town to have proper sewerage network in Meghalaya.
He however denied the claims of the JMB which stated in its reply filed before the NGT that the subject matter of house construction and land lies with the JHADC and not with the state government.
“This is highly misleading. Jowai is a town and falls under the Urban Development department (Town Planner Division), except for the 4 localities of Jowai, building permission is obtained only from the office of urban development department,” he said.
He said that it is a fact too that urban department has the final say and it is the ultimate authority when it comes to obtaining permission for water and electricity connection in Jowai.
For some unknown reasons, there appears to be partiality in taking action against some offenders by the JMB, he said.
Laloo further alleged that more than 40 % of car washing centres are still operating illegally without having any filters or ETP and said that this matter will also be brought to the notice of the NGT in the next date of hearing.
He said that this issue had been taken up by the Jaintia Fishing Association with the CEO of JMB. “However no satisfactory reply was given to them and till date he has not provided the association with the required information which they have sought for,” he said.
The petitioner also alleged that till date, several departments of the government have not given any heed to the direction passed by the NGT in cleaning the Myntdu river.
There are many drains which are under construction in and around Jowai which do not have even a single domestic solid waste trapping system and siltation barrier, he said.
According to him, these drains are all free flowing drains and the domestic waste water will all be directly discharged into the river.
Meanwhile, Laloo said that the matter pertaining to the roadside dumping of garbage by the vendors of Iawmusiang which include three markets, run by Seinraij Jowai, JHADC, CNI church Jowai, Jowai Presbytery Church and another market run by JHADC in Ladthadlaboh Jowai have also been brought to the notice of the NGT.
Spew garbage is a common sight and the first hand experience for any tourist visiting Jowia. It’s very unfortunate to mention here that inspite of request letters sent to all the market managements to keep commercial garbage collection bins in their respective markets none of them has considered the request, he added.
By Our Reporter
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