1700 kg of plastics collected in Dimapur
Eastern Mirror Desk/Our Correspondent
Dimapur, June 5 (EMN): To commemorate the World Environment Day, more than 800 denizens of Dimapur came together to give the city a clean look on June 5 morning.
About 34 different organisations, schools and colleges, departments, traders and unions, and individuals turned up to clean Dimapur town.
The drive was initiated by the Dimapur Municipal Council and Team Clean Dimapur in collaboration with various unions, departments, organisations, business associations, and individuals.
In the evening, the Team Clean Dimapur in collaboration with Nagaland Hotels and Restaurants Association (NHRA) conducted a programme under the theme of World Environment Day 2018, “Beat plastic pollution” at Hotel Saramati in the evening.
“If we try to reduce waste like olden times, it won’t work,” said the administrator of Dimapur Municipal Council, Moa Sangtam.
Sangtam said that people use plastic because it is cheaper, easier, and convenient but its effect on environment was huge.
Keeping in mind the negative effects of plastic, World Environment Day 2018 is being observed on the theme, “Beat Plastic Pollutio,” he said.
Sangtam informed that around 1700 kg of plastics were collected during the cleaning drive carried out in the morning. He opined that if it goes on like the present times, plastic would overtake human existence.
Also conveying to the hotel and restaurant union, Sangtam asserted that clean hotels attract customers; hence, he said cleanliness is good business for the hotels.
The president of NHRA, Vito Awomi, took the instance of Shillong as one of the cleanest cities in Northeast and urged the gathering to work towards achieving the status of being clean. Awomi contended that if others can do it Nagas should be able to do it better. He said that Nagaland can be a tourist attraction if the people maintain cleanliness. For that to happen, he urged Team Clean Dimapur to continue their good work and set an example for other places in the state.
Vatsu Meru, the ex-minister for Tourism who also spoke during the event opined that ‘if all the people work hand in hand, Nagaland can be one of the cleanest states.’
DMC cannot go on cleaning somebody’s garbage, and that everyone must be responsible, he said adding that cleaning should not be a matter of imposition but something that come from within.
Mokokchung: Along with rest of the country World Environment Day Mokokchung district observed the World Environment Day on the theme, “Beat Plastic Pollution,” at Settsu village.
The Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) Mokokchung division and WSSO observed the event by imparting skills to womenfolk on recycling plastic waste.
SDO Imtiyanger T Imchen, spoke on the hazards of plastic pollution. He said ‘it is human greed that has manifested itself in new ways, causing irreparable damage to the environment just for profit.’
It is assumed that a large amount of plastic waste inevitably enters the environment —studies suggest that upto 90% of seabirds have plastic debris in their guts.
Imchen urged that gathering to contribute toward minimizing the dependence of plastic which cause great harm to the environment in the form of air, water and land pollution. He encouraged use non-plastic packaging.
Imchen advised the participants to recycle plastic waste to combat plastic pollution.
Using plastic waste for construction of roads is a cost affection method which is durable and prevents recurring of potholes, he said while suggesting methods to reduce plastic pollution.
Members of Mission Clean Drive from Ungma village imparted various skills in recycling plastic waste.
Nagaland House New Delhi: Nagaland House New Delhi staff observed the World Environment Day on June 5 at 29-Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Road in New Delhi, with the governor of Nagaland PB Acharya as the chief guest.
During a brief programme, governor highlighted the important of ecological balance. Stating that global warming is a serious concern for the people of the world, Acharya said that India must immediately stop using plastic bags and products as it affects the nature both in short term and long term. He also said that more plantations of trees and preservation of forest is the need of the hour in all parts of the nation.
After a short programme trees were planted at Nagaland House premises, the press release received here on Tuesday informed.
Mon: Mon district observed World Environment Day on June 5 at the council hall. The programme was jointly organised by the Konyak Students Union and District Legal Services Authority.
Legal Aid Counsel DLSA Mon, N Mannon K, in her keynote address, mentioned that taking care and protecting the environment is the duty of all human being. Every day the environment should be taken care in daily-life activities. He also urged to stop using plastic which is non degradable and harmful to the environment.
Various schools and college of Mon town also participated. After the function saplings of trees were distributed to all the schools and college for the plantation drive. Forest department, Mon contributed 2000 trees saplings for the drive.
Phek: In Phek, the Forest department, 22nd Assam Rifle, DEF, Chakhesang Students Union, Phek Town Youth Society and private schools of Phek town observed the World environment day at Royal Foundation School in Phek town.
DFO Velatso Demo challenged the participants to contribute for the well being of the environment while Colonel RK Vikram commandant, 22nd Assam Rifle, Phek, shared on the need to protect trees and Superintendent of Police Dr. N M Mansury enlightened on hazards of plastic pollution and the method to combat the plastic Certificates were awarded to the students for essay and painting.
Wokha: Libemo Memorial School observed World Environment day under the theme “Plastic Pollution! Kick the Habit”.
To mark the occasion, the school in collaboration with 28th Assam Rifles, the Aesthetic and Eco Club of the school, organised a “fun run,” a mini marathon for students and teachers.
The school also organised craft-making from plastic waste, painting competition, environment- related video viewing and tree plantation drive.
Peren: Peren district administration and department of Rural Development, in collaboration with the Bridge Team One, Peren Students Union and Peren Town Youth Organization observed the World Environment Day on June 5 2018 with the theme ‘beat plastic pollution’.
Project director of DRDA, Keyirangding Hegui, said that the first World Environment Day was observed in the year 1974 by the United Nations with the aim to create world-wide awareness to care for environment.
He encouraged the students to take the responsibility in maintaining and preserving the environment. The observation of this day should not be just a day but it should be continued throughout the year in order to conserve nature, he added.
To mark the occasion, varieties of pine trees were planted in all the nine wards in Peren town.
Bhandari: Bhandari sub-division also observed the World environment Day at the Office of the Additional Deputy Commissioner. The programme was organised by the district administration and the department of EF&CC, Merapani range under the theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Tiameren Chang called upon the head of departments and NGOs present to rededicate in their effort to reach out to lessen mass deforestation by starting to plant more trees in an around their surroundings.
Range officer, Merapani, Punseni Khing called upon the people to be responsible caretakers of the nature. Preserve, conserve, and protect the environment for safety of mankind instead of destroying it with greed and wanton destruction, he said.
All the departments under the Bhandari sub-division carried out a plantation drive at the Forest department’s land at Longayim village.
Jalukie: Jalukie Town head offices, leaders from various civil societies, women, and youth and business communities observed the World Environment Day at Traffic police point. To mark the occasion, a short programme was held at town auto parking. After the programme, plantation drive was carried out.
Plantation drive and awareness march were also conducted at Tening and Kiphire in line.
Also, Noksen Bukmut Thangjem Noksen town under Tuensang district observed by planting trees around Noksen headquarter. The seedlings were provided by Minister for Forest Environment and Climate Change, CM Chang.
Mission Clean Dzükou
Commemorating the World Environment Day, the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) in collaboration with the Kohima District Legal Services Authority, Kohima Law College and the Southern Angami Youth Organisation undertook a cleanliness drive at Dzukou Valley on June 5.
The “Mission Clean Dzükou” with the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution” was flagged-off by Justice LS Jamir, executive chairman of NSLSA.
Jamir in his address to the participants stressed on the importance of preserving environment and Dzükou valley being the beauty of Nagaland, should be maintained and people should preserve its natural environment.
If the present generation neglect in its duty of maintaining and preserving the environment with special emphasize on Dzükou valley, we would be committing grave sin and a huge blunder for the future generation, he said.
Jamir asserted that the small step taken today is a big leap forward and it will go a long way for the future generation to have a clean and healthy environment.
A brief introduction on the ‘Mission Clean Dzükou’ was delivered by Mezivolu T Therieh, member secretary of NSLSA.
A pledge was taken by all the participants for adopting eco-friendly lifestyle which.
After the cleanliness drive, the garbage collected from the valley was handed over to Kohima Municipal Council for safe disposal.
