Shillong, Mar 1: More than three lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste have accumulated over the years at the Marten landfill on the outskirts of Shillong. The Government of Meghalaya now says the end of the long-pending clean-up is within reach, though concerns over environmental oversight and accountability persist.
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, who holds the Urban Affairs portfolio, informed the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly during its Budget Session that 1,21,193 metric tonnes of waste remain out of a total 3,45,996 metric tonnes identified as legacy waste. So far, 2,24,143 metric tonnes have been remediated, with June 2026 set as the target for full completion.
The bio-mining contract has been awarded to M/s Call & Fix, a Guwahati-based firm located on RGB Road in Guwahati. The total project cost stands at Rs 24.40 crore, of which Rs 12.75 crore has already been spent.
Dhar stated that processed waste materials have been scientifically tested at NABL-accredited laboratories and that the technology deployed meets international environmental standards — an assurance repeatedly offered to residents living near the landfill.
However, one disclosure is likely to draw scrutiny. Responding to queries on whether an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted before awarding the contract, the Deputy Chief Minister said no such assessment was undertaken as the bio-mining activity does not constitute a new project requiring a fresh EIA under prevailing environmental law.
Environmental advocates may question that interpretation given the scale of the operation.
The government also confirmed that no penalties have been imposed on the contractor for delays, a point raised by legislators during question hour. Detailed information on disposal and reuse mechanisms for processed materials was referred to a statement tabled before the House.
With roughly 35 per cent of the original waste still unprocessed and the June 2026 deadline approaching, pressure is mounting on both the contractor and the government to deliver on a clean-up long awaited by residents of Shillong.
