Government wants sustainable waste management across Nagaland

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Aug. 30: It’s only in this year that the government of Nagaland integrated solid waste management policy in the state, to be precise on April 18, but the government is aiming at achieving sustainable waste management across the state, covering both the rural and urban areas by 2030.

This was revealed by Chief Conservator of Forest, Nagaland, Supongnukshi on the inaugural session of the two-day seminar on “Urban Solid Waste Management: Challenges and Issues” held in the Conference Hall of Dimapur Government College on August 30. The event was organised by the Research Committee of Dimapur Government College in collaboration with Dimapur Municipal Council and sponsored by Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).

Supongnukshi said that the government of India had initially penalised Nagaland state with a fine of INR 2 crore for failing to submit the action plan on disposal of plastic waste this year as per the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order but was luckily settled through court.

“The country has come up with an action plan for the climate change and under the Prime Minister’s consult, each of the state is to have an action plan on climate change and till date, 33 states and Union Territories already have, including Nagaland,” he stated, adding that the revised version will be out by the end of this year.

Under this plan, there is a sector which deals with the state mission on urban habitat and there is a certain specific chapter on how they have to be sustainable in needs, he said. Immense increase in urbanisation in the state during the last few decades has created a huge pressure on the natural resources; and heavy rainfall has led to floods, underscoring the need to have a good urban drainage system, he added.

He said that weekly collection of waste from households and streets will be most effective in solving solid waste menace as households produce highest amount of waste. He also suggested that there should be partnership between private and public section to solve the issue.

During the technical session of the seminar, Manoj Ramchandra Sable said that people working in the waste management are looked down by others and described it as a big challenge. While endorsing mass participation in the Swachh Bharat mission, he said waste management should start from the individuals.

Resource person Moameren Pongen stressed on the importance of sensitising the need to reduce waste at individual level and change lifestyle. He added that awareness on solid waste menace should be imparted at a young age and support NGOs and individuals who are involved in creating a clean environment.