Illegal dumping near Nagaland Zoological Park persists despite repeated clean-up drives, with Thilixu village blaming passing commuters for the menace
Yapangnaro Jamir
DIMAPUR — Just ahead of the Nagaland Zoological Park, an illegal dumping yard continues to thrive despite an anti-littering signboard, repeated clean-up drives and warnings from Thilixu village authorities, who say most of the garbage is dumped by commuters travelling along the stretch.
The continuous dumping of garbage bags from moving vehicles has gradually turned the roadside into an unauthorised dumping site, with village authorities alleging that most offenders speed away before they can be identified.
Tokihe Achumi, GB of Thilixu village, told Eastern Mirror that the site has been used as an unauthorised dumping yard for more than three years. The village council, in collaboration with the students' union, has issued notices on several occasions, but people continue to dump waste there.
“Eighty percent of the waste is dumped by passing cars. People from the area do not throw, maybe one or two cases, that cannot be guaranteed,” Achumi claimed.
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He said that the village has been trying its best to curb the menace. Although the site has been cleaned several times, people continue to dump waste, forcing volunteers to repeat the same exercise.
The GB recalled catching an offender in the past but choosing to let him off with a warning. The main challenge, he said, is the inability to monitor the isolated stretch round the clock. He warned that offenders caught dumping waste would face fines and punishment under customary law.
Thilixu Village Students' Union (TVSU) president Hukato Chopi said that the area has been used for illegal dumping for years, gradually turning it into a roadside dumping spot and affecting the cleanliness and environment of the locality.
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The student union has repeatedly appealed to the public not to dump waste there and has worked with the village council and GBs to raise awareness. It has also organised three clean-up drives, during which an excavator was used to remove accumulated waste and transport it to the authorised Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) dumping site.
Asked who was responsible, the union said, "Based on our observations, the waste appears to be largely dumped by commuters using the road rather than residents of Thilixu village."
The TVSU pointed out that Thilixu village already has a door-to-door sanitation service operated by the students' union, with waste collected twice a week, providing residents with an organised system for household waste disposal.
"Unfortunately, some commuters continue to dump waste illegally out of convenience and a lack of civic responsibility despite repeated appeals," the union leader said.
The TVSU also pointed out that the location lies outside the main residential area, where there is little public presence, making continuous monitoring difficult. Illegal dumping usually takes place early in the morning or late at night, making it nearly impossible to identify offenders without constant surveillance.
It also raised concerns over the health and environmental impact of the growing waste.
"The accumulated waste creates foul odour, attracts stray animals and insects, and poses potential health and environmental risks. Besides affecting the surrounding environment, it also creates a negative impression for people travelling through the area, especially considering its proximity to the Zoological Park," the union stated.
Looking ahead, the TVSU said that it would continue working with the village council and GBs to strengthen public awareness while exploring stronger monitoring measures, including the installation of additional warning boards. It also urged the authorities to support stricter enforcement against illegal dumping.
In an appeal to the public, the union said: "We sincerely appeal to everyone, especially commuters using this road, to refrain from throwing garbage along the roadside. Keeping our environment clean is a shared responsibility."
Residents of Thilixu village have been encouraged to use the door-to-door sanitation service provided by TVSU, while commuters and the general public have been urged to dispose of waste through authorised collection systems or approved disposal facilities in their respective localities.