Dimapur, May 31 (EMN): A whopping 23,102 kg of waste was collected during the recent mass cleanliness drive which was organised in seven districts and nine locations of the state on May 25 as part of the Himalayan Cleanup Campaign (THC) Nagaland Chapter, informed THC convener LH Thangi Mannen in a statement.
According the THC, a total of 1,634 volunteers participated in the recent cleanup programme which lasted for about 6 hours on an average.
“The Campaign saw the active participation of NGOs, youth organisations, local town councils, police, administrations, individuals and other concern organisations. It was truly an experience of sharing and encouragement amongst all the participants across the state for a common cause to fight the menace of plastic pollution in our land and our lives,” read the report.
The THC report, which was compiled after receiving information from all the districts that participated in the recent cleanliness drive, said that out of the 23,102 kg of waste collected, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle was the highest polluter, followed by multi-layered plastic, and single-use plastic.
PET bottles primarily comprise of Dew Drops and Sun Aqua from Assam, and Zion drops and Viva from Nagaland, revealed the report. Other brands include Appy Fizz, Oscar and Mcdowells Rum. “These are only the top polluters and other brands are there which contribute to the garbage pile ups,” it stated, adding that Talap, Gutka, Happy Dent, Rum Bum etc. fall in the multi-layer category, while top brands in the tetra pack category of waste include Frooti, Appy and ORSL.
“In every cleanup site, the constant and most common items were the single-use plastics like the small plastic pan wrappers, plastic bags of all sizes and thickness, and the plastic cups. While the branded pollutants will have to be addressed under the “Extended Producer Responsibility” (EPR) of the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016, the issue of reducing or completely banning all single-use plastics, on priority, is the urgent need of the day,” said the report.
Another matter of concern is that except for Dimapur and Kohima, other districts do not have scrap dealers or waste collectors to collect the recyclable waste, according to the report.
“Thus these districts, towns and villages will eventually witness the continuous pile up of garbage at an alarming rate. The landfill at Mon is also located next to the river with most of the waste spilling into it. Localities outside the Dimapur Municipal areas do not have any landfill to dispose waste, resulting in the local residents burning the waste. This adds to the air pollution, making Dimapur’s air quality index (AQI) on the more polluted list,” read the findings of the THC. It also said many food items of dubious origins were found amongst the collected waste and that it requires to be addressed at the appropriate level.
The report said that accumulation of garbage is increasing and landfills are not only an eyesore but also affecting land, soil, and environment. Dimapur landfill has in recent times undergone the process of bio-stabilisation, which has not only comparatively reduced the volume of the garbage but also its faulty smell, it said, adding that this initiative could perhaps be replicated in other landfills after a thorough assessment is made on its environmental impact.
The THC has suggested in its report that as the technology is quite expensive and other Municipals and town councils may not have the required resources, the government of Nagaland could perhaps consider taking it up in its plan of action for solid waste management. It added that there should be adequate budget provision and focus given for tackling the issue of waste management in the state.
The THC, Nagaland stated that the cleanliness drive in the state was a “coming together and bonding of all concerned individuals, organisations, youths, schools and even some government departments.” It added that the programme established a sense of comradeship with other Himalayan states on an issue of common concern, and on the need to project this concern collectively as a region and to take together.
It also thanked all its partners, IMI, Zero Waste Himalaya, Temjen Toy, Chief Secretary, Nagaland, and the NSDMA for their support.
