Shillong: Garbage is spilling onto roads at the Marten landfill in Mawlai Nongkwar Block-13. A cracked, unstable retaining wall sits on the brink of collapse. Black, foul-smelling liquid flows from the site toward the Umiam river. The Hynniewtrep National Youth Front, Mawlai Circle, inspected the site on Friday after residents reported recurring health issues and an unbearable stench.
HNYF Mawlai Circle president Sanbor Rapsang wants immediate change. He challenged government ministers to live near the trash site for a week to feel the residents' pain. Rapsang said, "The landfill is a matter of shame for a state that markets itself as a tourist destination." He warned that the stench greets visitors well before they ever reach Shillong.
Residents fear the wall will fail when heavy rains hit. They want the government to halt dumping at the site and find a temporary alternative before a disaster occurs. E. Rangslang of Mawlai Nongkwar Block-13 Seng Samla echoed these concerns. He said local people have done their part by speaking up. Now, the government must act to fix the site.
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