Six monthly progress report by the state of Meghalaya on solid and liquid waste management, 16/06/2023
Six monthly progress report by the state of Meghalaya on OA 606 of 2018 (Compliance of MSW Management Rules, 2016).
Meghalaya has taken several steps to improve the solid and liquid waste management scenario in the state. All efforts have been made to collect the requisite committed fund to meet the expenditure on account of the gap in solid and liquid waste management as directed by the NGT vide order, December 22, 2022. The total sum collected and spent so far since December 22, 2022 is Rs 119.96 lakhs - this is exclusive of a further sum of Rs 16 crores deposited in the ring fenced account for undertaking solid and liquid waste management in the rural areas of Meghalaya.
A detailed action plan has been drawn by the state government under the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 to further upgrade and improve solid waste management in terms of collection, segregation and setting up processing facilities and requisite proposal for sanction of funds has been submitted.
The state is also exploring novel forms of technology particularly 'waste to energy' as part of its efforts to manage the solid waste in the municipal towns. As far as legacy management is concerned a detailed project report on legacy waste treatment is under preparation by Shillong Municipal Board after NEISICS has given an approval for DPR preparation.
Under the Swachh Bharat Mission (U) 2.0 National Advisory and Review Committee (NARC) has approved thew legacy waste treatment project and allocated funds for the same which are likely to be released and legacy waste treatment would commence forthwith after that.
The report said that the DPR for legacy waste treatment is being modelled along the concept of bioremediation of the capped landfill site and its reclamation thereafter through raising a plantation. In the sanitary landfill site sector finalization of sites for setting up of permanent sanitary landfill are at an advanced stage in the ULBs where there is presently so much landfill site. The Urban Affairs Department in addition to the existing landfill site Marten, Shillong has also finalized and acquired another site at Nonghali in Shillong.
In the liquid waste management sector, the civil works with respect to the FSTPs and onsite STPs are nearing completion and most of them are awaiting power supply for the purpose of being commissioned. Trial run has begun for nullah-in-situ remediation in some and civil works are nearing completion in all the remaining drains. In addition, a detailed action plan has been drawn up by the state government under the Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 to further improve liquid waste management in terms of setting up of decentralised sewage treatment plants (STP) and requisite proposal for sanction of fund has already been submitted to the appropriate authority.