Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Urban Affairs, Sniawbhalang Dhar, has stated that the Meghalaya government is yet to finalise land acquisition for setting up new landfill sites in Shillong and other district headquarters, as negotiations over land rates with landowners are still underway.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Dhar said that public hearings have not been held in certain areas, delaying discussions on land rates. “No public hearing has been held, so we are yet to negotiate about the rate, and we have formed a negotiation committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner or Director of Urban Affairs,” he said.
“The rate, if it is win-win for both, we may go ahead, but if the rate is too high, that’s a different question altogether,” Dhar added.
Referring to the proposed landfill site at Nonghali, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the public hearing had been conducted smoothly and the focus has now shifted to negotiations. “The public hearing has been completed, and now we are going to negotiate with the landowners, meaning the community of Nonghali village,” he said.
Providing updates on other districts, Dhar stated that land identification is still pending in parts of the Jaintia Hills, while progress has been made in Williamnagar and Tura. “In Jaintia Hills, we are yet to identify land, but in Williamnagar and Tura, land acquisition has already been done in some places, while other locations are still being identified,” he said.
In Jowai, Dhar said multiple sites have been identified but finalisation remains pending due to public opposition. “We have identified three to four places, but we are yet to finalise which one is feasible for the landfill. In some places, people were against it, so we dropped those sites and moved to new locations,” he said.
Emphasising the government’s commitment to waste management, Dhar said ensuring cleanliness in markets and residential areas remains a top priority. “We are using all measures and ensuring that there is no waste in markets and localities. That is our priority,” he added.