[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he magnificence of environment and its resources is something we ought to respect and protect. However, our environment is gradually degrading because of our deleterious activities. We are solely concern for fulfilling our own selfish desire without realising how much damage has been done to our environment. We merely concern for our own materialistic gain without any concern for our environment as our actions clearly depict. We never give a thought for prevailing environment problems that posed a grave danger to our society. We simply talk about it without doing anything to conserve it. Hence, it is seriously viewed that we need to embolden deeper understanding on environment issues. Here are some of the environmental concerns need to be pondered upon:Lack of civic sense
Deplorable standard of civic sense among the people mainly attributed to environment degradation. We as a rational being should always bear in mind that every action/activities that we do in our day to day life has a direct impact on environment. To speak to my conscience, I don’t care attitude makes the environment dirty. Lack of civic sense is evident in public places, hospitals, government offices etc. Walls are stained with paan and gutka spittle in every quarters/dwelling. We take pleasure in spitting, smoking or throwing trashes where it is prohibited. We are habituated to simply throwing disposal cups and plates on the street after relishing as it is a sad fact that we lack sense of hygiene and cleanliness. We wrongly feel that we have no responsibility beyond keeping our homes and ourselves hygienic without realizing that it is we who are blameable for this problem. We as a rational being erroneously assume that keeping the town/ward clean is municipal/someone’s duty. “My dwelling/shop and its adjoining area are clean so I have nothing to do with environment. Keeping environment clean is the duty of Municipal” are some of the comments heard from many knowledgeable persons as we encountered them. Such is our attitude. Hence, it is quite advisable that until and unless we come forward and work together with the concerned department, we can never have healthier environment. It has been a regular practice that we litter the area soon after the area is cleaned by the concern authority. Rationally speaking, it is we who often convert the beautiful place into a filthy one. Nevertheless, if we all are sincerely involved, our city will become clean in the near future. Our frequent practice of throwing garbage into nearby Nullah/drainage besides connecting sceptic tank to Nullah should stop immediately concerning its menace to our health and environment. Such insanitary practices should be totally prohibited by the concern department. Strict ban should be imposed. Our habitual practice of simply throwing away foodstuff outside/ smoking cigarettes and betel nuts while driving should be avoided as they make the environment filthy. The need of the hour is to indoctrinate civil accountabilities and outlook in the minds of the young people. In fine, let us embrace civic sense and practise it.
Shortage of dumpster in various areas of the town/wards
The concern department should construct dumpster in various areas of the town to avoid illegal dumping alongside the road by the residents/business community. It has been observed that due to lack of dumper bins people throw the garbage on to the road which turns the area quite unhygienic.
Medical waste: Medical waste in the city is of special concern because of the impending vulnerabilities to health and environment. With upturn of health care business particularly in Dimapur city, it is noteworthy to state that pre-emptive measures should be taken as careless medical waste management can pollute the environment and may adversely impact human health. The dumping of medical waste is very risky as far human health is concerned. Hence, State and local bodies should strictly implement and monitor compliance with standard waste management practices at every health care facility. “A clean environment is vital for good health, and health care that prioritizes a clean environment represents a holistic approach to good health”. The need of the hour is to encourage sustainable healthcare.
Unhygienic practices:
Slaughter houses: As far as healthy consumption is concerned, the meat should be regularly kept covered either by net or glasses to avoid access of insects. However, such hygienic method is not practised here in our State. The meat is normally swarmed by insects/flies which is not fit for human consumption. It is advisable that the meat sellers should carry out their deal in a way that would not be detrimental to the health of the people. There should be hygienic rules. Selling meat under unhygienic conditions should be properly checked by the concerned authority time to time.
Slaughter houses at the roadsides : Slaughter houses should not be allowed to operate in the highway or roadsides as the poisonous gases emitted from the vehicles and the dust emanating from the roadsides is absorbed by the meat which become harmful for human consumption.
Vegetable vendors at railway track: Vegetable vendors at railway track should always bear in mind that their vegetables are nicely covered while the trains passes by so that the defecation released from the running train may not fall over the vegetable. It has been observed that most of the vegetable vendors at the railway track fail to cover their vegetable as the trains pass by resulting to flow of defecation over the vegetable laid within the track.
Fast food vendors: The fast food vendors in various areas of the town do away with the beauty of the town and polluting the environment, hence, they should be stimulated to avoid plastic disposal cups and plates instead urged to cater the food in reusable plates and glasses.
Illegal practices
Frequent dumping of garbage and sand mining at Dhansiri River: Unlawful throwing of waste materials and sand mining at Dhansiri River should be strictly monitored as it has a direct impact on environment. The high level contamination of the river by human waste should be prohibited before it posed a great threat to our health and environment.
Wildlife crime
Frequent killing of birds and animals are taking place in many parts of the State leading species to the brink of extinction. It is seriously viewed that appropriate steps should be taken to combat illegal killing, trapping and hunting of birds and animals so as to help safeguard the existence of many endangered species.
Emission of gases from the vehicles/noise pollution
Vehicles emitting enormous gases should not be allowed to ply in the town. In many instances vehicle owners recurrently practice of keeping open their silencer pipe so that their vehicle produce considerable noise than other vehicles. Such unsolicited noises create lot of nuisance to the public. Hence, such unwelcome practices should be diligently monitored by the concerned department.
Fuel adulteration
Adulterated fuel blend leads to increase emissions of harmful pollutants from vehicles, worsening urban air pollution etc. The consequences of these are long term air pollution, harmful effect on health, reduced life of vehicle engine and higher maintenance cost. Practise of fuel diluting by petrol dealer should be carefully checked.
Excessive use of electrical appliances: Excessive use of electrical appliances led to global warming. It is to be mentioned that the two major electrical loads in most household are the A/C system and the hot water heater. Excessive use of washing machine, refrigerators, electrical rice cooker, induction etc. in every house is irrefutable. Sadly the consequences of these uses are undesirable from the environment point of view. So let us minimise or avoid use of such household electrical appliances to conserve environment. We also can conserve environment by using CFLs instead of incandescent light bulbs as it can reduce electricity use while simultaneously making a positive impact on climate change.
Burning of forests/deforestation: Burning of forests should be totally prohibited as far as environment conservation is concerned. The government should halt developmental funds to those villages for unnecessary burning of forest so as to put an end to illegal practice of forest burning. Deforestation is caused mainly because of jhum cultivation; hence, alternative method of cultivation like cash crop/rubber should be encouraged so that jhuming will be minimized.
Traffic congestion: Traffic jam in the city has become a routine affair. The main reason for traffic jam is our reluctance to use public transport or walk. We don’t prefer to go on foot even for short distance without using a vehicle. As a result, streets in the town are frequently packed with vehicles at all times. As per the world pollution control 33% of pollution is caused by transport, hence, we need to limit use of vehicle so as to reduce the green house emission. In fact, using vehicle for just wakable distance is not wise rather its stupidity as far as environment conservation is concerned
Use cotton/jute bags instead of plastic bags
Jute and cotton bags are perfect for the environment considering their degradability, durability and eco-friendly nature. On the contrary, plastic bags don’t biodegrade. It is to be mentioned that plastic bag take 1,000 years to break down in the environment. Plastic bags not only contaminate the ground but also making the soil very unfertile. Poor disposal of polythene caused water logging since the water cannot percolate through them leading to the spread of diseases. To be concise, we should avoid using plastic bags rather use bio-degradable jute bags in view of the fact that our environment is getting polluted with the large-scale use of polythene.
Furthermore, it is to be suggested that every government departments, churches, villages, civil societies, etc. should practice tree plantation once in every year so as to help balance our green cover. In fine, unless we alter many of our way of life, we are certain to encounter unwanted levels of environment damage.
SEMTO L
Managing Director
Save Environment Network
