Guwahati: After years of mounting concern over the sprawling waste mounds at the Marten landfill, the Meghalaya government has claimed that the long-delayed clean-up is finally entering its final phase. Yet even as officials project steady progress in bio-mining operations, questions over environmental scrutiny and contractual accountability continue to shadow the exercise.
Replying during the Budget Session of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, who holds the Urban Affairs portfolio, informed the House that of the total 3,45,996 metric tonnes of legacy waste identified at the site, 2,24,143 metric tonnes have been processed so far. Approximately 1,21,193 metric tonnes remain untreated, with June 2026 set as the deadline for full remediation.
The bio-mining work has been entrusted to M/s Call & Fix, a Guwahati-based firm located on RGB Road in Assam. The total project cost stands at Rs 24.40 crore, of which Rs 12.75 crore has already been spent, Dhar said.
In response to concerns raised by legislators about environmental safety, the Deputy Chief Minister stated that processed materials have been subjected to scientific testing at NABL-accredited laboratories. He maintained that the bio-mining technology deployed at the site conforms to internationally accepted environmental standards — an assurance the government has repeatedly offered to residents living in the vicinity of the landfill.
However, a disclosure made during the session is likely to invite closer scrutiny. When asked whether a formal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) had been conducted prior to awarding the contract, Dhar clarified that no such assessment was undertaken. He stated that bio-mining does not constitute a new project under prevailing environmental law and therefore does not require a fresh EIA.
The explanation may not satisfy environmental advocates, given the scale of the operation and its potential ecological implications.
Adding to the scrutiny, the government confirmed that no penalties have been imposed on the contractor for delays — a matter raised during question hour. Detailed information regarding the disposal and reuse of processed materials was referred to a statement tabled before the House rather than addressed directly on the floor.
With nearly 35% of the original waste yet to be processed and the June 2026 deadline approaching, the success of the remediation effort will depend on both timely execution and transparent oversight.