The East Khasi Hills District Magistrate has invoked the newly enacted Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), specifically Section 163, to prohibit the indiscriminate dumping of soil, construction debris, and household garbage along crucial highway stretches. The ban, effective immediately and indefinitely, targets the vital arteries connecting Rilbong Junction to Upper Shillong and the extensive Shillong-Guwahati National Highway.
This stringent measure comes in the wake of mounting complaints and observations of unauthorised waste disposal, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas like Umshyrpi near Rilbong Point. Authorities expressed significant concern over the potential public health hazards posed by such practices, alongside the direct obstruction they present to the ongoing infrastructure development projects spearheaded by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
The Magistrate’s office underscored the necessity of this order to maintain public order, hygiene, and to facilitate the unhindered progress of critical roadworks. Violators of this directive face immediate prosecution under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), with authorities signalling zero tolerance for non-compliance.