The Meghalaya Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Greater Shillong Waste Management Agency and its registration as a Society. The proposal was approved in the Cabinet meeting on Thursday. With Shillong witnessing rapid growth and increasing urbanization, waste collection and management are currently being handled by multiple agencies across different jurisdictions. This fragmentation has resulted in gaps in coordination and inefficiencies, affecting the overall effectiveness of waste management across the city.
Recognizing these challenges, the state government has decided to set up the Greater Shillong Waste Management Agency to streamline efforts and improve overall efficiency. The decision follows extensive consultations with localities within the Greater Shillong Planning Area, which covers approximately 288.5 square kilometers as there is a clear and growing need to enhance the efficiency of garbage collection, and waste management to meet the demands of a rapidly expanding urban population. Availing the services of the Agency will not be mandatory, and individual localities will retain the flexibility to decide whether to avail its services.