Nagaland’s beauty eclipsed by garbage, says advisor Zhaleo

KOHIMA — Advisor for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Zhaleo Rio, on Monday, said that garbage treatment is one of the biggest challenges faced by the state.

Speaking at a sensitisation workshop on the management of multi-layered plastics (MLPs) and single-use plastics (SUPs) at the Capital Convention Centre, Kohima, the advisor maintained that the natural beauty of the state is eclipsed by the garbage that is left out in the open.

Nagaland is a small state but faces bigger hygiene issue than its counterparts across the country, he said, adding that high literacy rate too hasn’t helped.

Zhaleo said that he witnessed a “very sad affair” during his recent inspection of the Dimapur Municipal Council jurisdiction, citing accumulation of dirt, dead-end drainages, and the flow of water in one direction.

The advisor assured the department’s support towards the initiative (workshop on management of plastic) and called for a joint effort for the success of the awareness programme.

The workshop was initiated by Earth Alliance in collaboration with the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) and the department of School Education, while the concept was designed by the Mumbai Sustainability Centre and Dalmia Cement.

Founder of Earth Alliance, Thangi Mannen, said the awareness programme on managing MLPs and SUPs targets children as they can teach their parents at home and take the lead in sensitising others.

Pointing out that the quantity of waste keeps increasing in Nagaland, she said ‘it will be too late if we don’t act now’.

On waste dumping sites currently being used by various municipal councils, Mannen said that the Dimapur Municipal Council has been directed by the National Green Tribunal to find a different place to dump waste and the Mokokchung Municipal Council has been threatened by landowners.

Founder of Mumbai Sustainable Centre, Rishi Agarwal, informed that Safai Bank, which a one-stop solution to responsibly dispose of MLP waste, will be opened in Kohima, Mokokchung, and Dimapur districts to start with.

He said that a family generates at least one bag of garbage a day and the only way to dispose of the MPLs is through co-processing or energy recovery. As such, he urged students to take the lead in collecting MLPs in schools and homes.

The waste collected will be taken to the warehouse of Dalmia Bharat Cement and burnt at their plant, he added.

Speaking on the Safai Bank of India, he said it has so far collected about 1.5 crore wrappers of multi-layered packaging that is not recyclable.

The administrator of KMC, Lanusenla Longkumer, informed that it is taking up the programme starting with 20 schools in Kohima, while expressing hope of reaching out to all the schools in the district.

She also urged the advisor to expedite works on the solid waste management plant at Lerie and make it functional.

Commissioner and Secretary of School Education, Kevileno Angami, said the state can systematically manage plastic waste if waste management is ingrained in the minds of young people. She urged the students to share their learning at home and in the school.

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