Shillong: Greater public awareness, sustained media outreach and coordinated action among government agencies, Urban Local Bodies, Pollution Control Boards and citizens were emphasised for effective implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026.
Speaking at a Vartalap – Media Workshop held in Shillong in the spirit of Swachhata Hi Seva 2026, Dr. Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh, Member of Legislative Assembly from 16-East Shillong and Adviser to the Government of Meghalaya, called for clear and accessible communication of the Rules to strengthen public understanding and participation.
Organised by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Shillong, in coordination with the Urban Affairs Department, Government of Meghalaya, the Vartalap brought together government officials, technical agencies, Urban Local Bodies and the media to discuss the new Rules, implementation timelines and ways to communicate their provisions effectively to the public.
The Vartalap was held as part of the nationwide advocacy campaign for dissemination of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has extended support to the campaign and is working with the Urban Affairs Department and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on an appropriate media and dissemination strategy.
Appreciating the initiative, Dr. Lyngdoh commended PIB Shillong for bringing government departments, Urban Local Bodies, technical agencies and the media together on a common platform to discuss an issue of direct public importance. She also appreciated the Urban Affairs Department for its coordination and continued efforts to strengthen waste-management systems in the State.
She emphasised the need for officials to have a clear understanding of their responsibilities and communicate technical provisions in a manner that is accessible to communities. She also called for greater orientation of legislators and elected representatives on the new Rules, enabling them to engage effectively with the administration and the public. The media, she said, can play an important role in keeping citizens informed about implementation, challenges and measures being undertaken.
Reflecting on Meghalaya’s progress since 2014, Dr. Lyngdoh recalled that the State did not have a Project Management Unit (PMU) for urban sanitation at the time and communities largely relied on indigenous practices to address waste-related issues. She appreciated the Urban Affairs Department, PMU, Urban Local Bodies and municipal engineers for taking forward initiatives relating to waste management, sewage treatment and rainwater management.
P. K. Boro, Director, Urban Affairs Department, Government of Meghalaya, outlined the State’s approach to urban waste management and initiatives being undertaken by the Department and Urban Local Bodies.
W. R. Kharkrang, Chief Environmental Engineer, Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) and Joint Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Forest & Environment Department, spoke on the environmental and regulatory aspects of solid waste management and issues relevant to Meghalaya.
Providing the central technical perspective, Er. Arnab Mandal, Scientist C, CPCB, Regional Directorate-Shillong, explained key provisions of the Rules, including source segregation, responsibilities of waste generators and Bulk Waste Generators, scientific processing, monitoring and compliance.
W Shadap, Capacity Building, SBM Urban, Meghalaya, presented the implementation experience of Urban Local Bodies through his presentation on “Status and Achievement of Waste Management in 10 ULBs.”
The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 27 January 2026, came into force on 1 April 2026. The Rules mandate four-stream segregation at source into wet, dry, sanitary and special-care waste and provide for scientific processing, Material Recovery Facilities, Extended Producer Responsibility, environmental compensation under the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle and digital monitoring.
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The Rules provide for phased implementation in urban and rural areas, with timelines linked to population. In urban areas, implementation is to be completed within 18 months in cities with a population of one million and above, 24 months in urban areas with a population of 5-10 lakh, and 36 months in other urban areas. In rural areas, the timelines are 18 months for areas with a population of 20,000 and above, 24 months for areas with a population between 10,000 and 20,000, and 36 months for areas with a population up to 10,000.
The Vartalap concluded with discussions on implementation responsibilities and the importance of sustained public communication and community participation in strengthening scientific solid waste management in Meghalaya.
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