Hukheto Yepthomi flags off the Dimapur Waste Segregation and Management Project at Lhomithi Colony, Ward-15, on Friday. (EM Images)
DIMAPUR — Chairperson of the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), Hukheto Yepthomi, on Friday launched the Dimapur Waste Segregation and Management Project at Lhomithi Colony B under Ward-15, marking the beginning of a pilot initiative aimed at promoting scientific waste management and cleaner urban living.
Addressing the launch programme, Yepthomi said the success of the initiative would depend largely on effective implementation and active community participation.
He noted that the project was jointly planned by Ward Nos. 3 and 15 in consultation with several civil society organisations.
He acknowledged that the initiative had faced delays over the past few months due to various challenges but expressed confidence that collective efforts would ensure its success.
Stressing the need for greater civic responsibility, Yepthomi said cleanliness and waste management should not be viewed solely as the government’s responsibility. Instead, he urged citizens to develop stronger civic awareness and actively contribute to keeping the city clean.
The DMC chairperson also highlighted Dimapur’s drainage problems, attributing them to widespread encroachments and unplanned construction that have narrowed drainage channels. He warned that the municipal council would take stricter action against such violations in the future.
Referring to a recent cleanup drive near an army camp along Hokishe Sema Road, he said local youths had taken the initiative to clean and beautify an area that had become a dumping ground.
However, the effort reportedly encountered difficulties after an individual claimed ownership of the land through a patta. Yepthomi said the matter was brought to the attention of the deputy commissioner and called for proper land surveys before pattas are issued.
Speaking at the programme, DMC Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Kuzonyi Wideo, said waste segregation and management should have been implemented much earlier.
While appreciating the efforts of the DMC, he stressed that the initiative must expand beyond a pilot project and eventually cover all wards of Dimapur.
He maintained that maintaining cleanliness was a collective civic responsibility and not the duty of the government or municipal authorities alone.
Referring to the recently launched Solid Waste Management 2026 initiative, he said no law or policy could succeed unless citizens themselves were committed to cleanliness.
Delivering an overview of the project, DMC Waste Management Consultant Adrian Mahung said the initiative aims to transform waste into a useful resource through proper segregation and management.
He urged residents to separate kitchen waste from other forms of garbage, adding that the DMC would initially focus on collecting organic waste and converting it into valuable resources.
Mahung informed that waste segregation has become mandatory under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, which came into effect on April 1. Violators, he said, could face penalties under the “polluter pays” principle.
Explaining the categories of waste, he said wet waste includes kitchen waste and leftover food; dry waste comprises recyclable materials such as plastics and metals; sanitary waste includes diapers and sanitary pads; while hazardous waste covers items such as empty perfume cans, fuel containers, paint tins and turpentine cans.
Under the pilot project at Lhomithi Colony B, involving around 900 households, wet waste will be collected daily or at least once every two days. Non-recyclable and sanitary waste will be collected separately, while households are encouraged to sell or reuse recyclable materials to support a circular economy.
To manage organic waste, the DMC plans to process it into compost at a dedicated composting facility. A shredder capable of handling 300 to 500 kilograms of waste per hour has already been ordered for the unit, and the compost produced is expected to support agricultural and horticultural activities.
He further stated that the DMC lacks segregation machinery at its dumping site and therefore relies on households to segregate waste at source. Proper segregation, he added, could reduce the volume of waste reaching the dumping site by nearly 80 per cent.
