Modern College students attend NPCB’s ‘nature camp’ at Khonoma

DIMAPUR — A total of 54 students, 29 from the National Service Scheme (NSS) and 25 from the eco-green club, along with two teachers from Modern College, attended the two-day ‘nature camp’ organised by the Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB) on March 14 and 15 at Gwizan Resource Centre, Khonoma.

According to a press release, the aim of the camp included (but was not limited to) sensitising students to the importance of nature conservation, promoting environmental awareness, and fostering their physical and psychological development.

On March 14, during the first day of camping activities, an introductory session took place in the camp’s Conference Hall. Khriehu Rutsa, programme officer, led the session and explained key waste concepts, including the waste management process from collection to proper disposal, waste classification, types of plastics, and sources of waste.

The campers were also educated about various waste-related laws currently in effect, including the Biomedical Waste Management Rules, E-Waste Management Rules, Hazardous Waste Management Rules, and Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, among others.

Discussing waste management in Nagaland, she highlighted the utilisation of paper bags in Phek town and mentioned the environmental practices observed in villages like Viswema, where trash is routinely collected, and Zubza, where women collect plastic bottles to be sent to Dimapur for recycling, thereby generating income in the process.

She also emphasised the cost-effectiveness and environmental friendliness of converting plastics into raw materials for making plastic-bitumen roads, a practice her department successfully executed by constructing the road leading to her office using plastic-bitumen materials.

Following the introductory session, a documentary was screened, providing students with visual insights into the impacts of climate change on the environment, biodiversity, weather, and other related aspects.

On the second day, the campers undertook a trek through the Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary, lasting approximately four hours. Following the trek, they visited the sheep farm at Poilwa, Peren.