Meghalaya Government Faces Hurdles in Finalising Landfill Sites

By - Admin 17 Dec, 2025 Comments (0) 2 Mins Read

SHILLONG, DEC 17: The Meghalaya government is yet to finalise land acquisition for setting up new landfill sites in Shillong and other district headquarters, with negotiations over land rates with owners still underway, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar said on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters, Dhar said the process has been delayed as public hearings are yet to be held in several locations. “No public hearing has been held, so we are yet to negotiate the rates. A negotiation committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner or the Director of Urban Affairs has been constituted,” he said.

He added that the government would proceed only if the agreed rate is acceptable to both parties. “If the rate is a win-win for both, we may go ahead. But if the rate is too high, that is a different question altogether,” Dhar stated.

Referring to the proposed landfill site at Nonghali, the Deputy Chief Minister said the public hearing there was conducted smoothly and discussions have now moved to the negotiation stage. “We cannot discuss the rate until the public hearing is completed. Now that it is over, we will negotiate with the landowners, meaning the community of Nonghali village,” he said.

Providing an update on other districts, Dhar said land identification in the Jaintia Hills is still pending. However, in Williamnagar and Tura, land acquisition has already been completed at a few locations, while additional sites are still being identified.

“We are trying to acquire land for setting up landfills in all towns across the state,” he added.

In Jowai, Dhar said three to four potential sites have been identified, but none has been finalised yet due to local opposition. “Earlier, two or three places were identified, but people were against it, so we dropped those and are now exploring new locations,” he said.

Emphasising the government’s focus on waste management, Dhar said ensuring cleanliness in markets and residential areas remains a top priority. “We are using all measures to ensure there is no waste in markets and localities,” he said.