Lack of civic sense leaves Raj Bhavan areas in shambles

Our Correspondent
Kohima: July 26 (EMN): While the road from State Indoor Stadium leading to the Heritage Bungalow at Raj Bhavan as well as other official residences were expected to have a clean outlook, absence of waste bins seemed to have blighted with litters on closer inspection.

Even as many joggers, pedestrians and others including those who come with their vehicles throng around the area, not a single waste bin has been placed on the wayside along the road.

Accumulated wastes including tobacco packets are seen lying on the pavement while cases of cuts and injuries from broken pieces of glasses from alcohol and other bottles are reported from time to time due to the absence of garbage bins and lack of civic sense of citizens.

An elderly man, who was clearing weeds from a gutter below Heritage Bungalow, informed Eastern Mirror that they sometimes get their hands injured while picking up such sharp pieces. However, he apprised that at present, they don’t usually find much of such broken shards of glasses like the earlier days.

“Though there are risks of sustaining injury while clearing the pieces, it is our job anyway,” the cleaner said.

An official from Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) informed this newspaper that the wastebins installed along the stretch of the road since five-six years back were broken into pieces and couldn’t be used anymore. It was informed that new bins would be put to place ‘as and when fund is available’.

In most cases, evening and night revellers we held responsible for smashing bottles in nook and crannies.

The official expressed hope that they would utilise rubbish bins once installed. She said that they have detail sweepers in Raj Bhavan area to clear the debris and decided to conduct social work at least once a week in such places and in and around other municipal areas.

However, due to lack of fund coupled with manpower shortage, she apprised that the local authorities have failed to initiate cleanliness activities.