Imlisanen Jamir
There are many wonderful things about Dimapur. Its cosmopolitan nature, its burgeoning trade community, and its ramshackle border town experience that’s both nauseous and exhilarating.
There are also problems that come with the—let’s say ‘growth’—of an unorganized urban centre like Dimapur, with its dirt and waste and smell overwhelming the senses.
And ubiquitous with this experience is the overwhelming amount of waste generated and the inability to handle proper disposal of this waste.
In Dimapur, there has been a long drawn out battle between the municipality and two localities of the town with regard to waste disposal, and more recently on the burning of open/plastic waste.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT), in 2016, issued an order completely banning burning of waste in open places and announced a fine of Rs. 25,000 on each incident of bulk waste burning. “We direct that there shall be complete prohibition on open burning of waste on lands, including at landfill sites,” a Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.
In this backdrop, since 2016, the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) has been under constant attack from two localities alleging indifference to the health of those who live near the waste dump, and now for purportedly violating the NGT’s order.
It was last week that the United North Block Naga Colony and Sunrise Colony appealed to the Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB) to impose the NGT prescribed sanctions and other actions against the DMC.
This was demanded, while a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is under adjudication before the Gauhati High Court (Kohima Bench) with regard to shifting of the present DMC dumping site and its effects on residents’ health. This recent fracas with the DMC is the continuation of last year’s standoff between residents and the council over the same issue.
Since last year’s standoff, the municipalities responses to the concerns posed have been bleak, with it citing inability to relocate the site due to opposition from those close to the new proposed sites. The setting up of a scientific waste disposal facility also faces opposition from residents, with the latter accusing the authorities of going back on assurances and citing potential health hazards.
It’s basically a chaotic situation caused by lack of communication and indifference from several quarters.
To add to the bleak picture, the state government has virtually been silent; and the NPCB has taken no visible action. What has been even more disappointing is the townspeople being seemingly indifferent to the situation.
Two year’s since a collective of civil society, comprising of the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), Pro Rural (PR) and Can Youth (CY), issued a damning assessment of the waste disposal site in 2016, no prominent civic or ‘apex’ body has pressured for urgent action on this pertinent environmental issue right at our backyard.
Acknowledging the plight of the DMC; whatever the outcome of the aforesaid PIL; or whether the NPCB takes cognizance of the recent complaint, the fact remains that outside the hogwash of this bureaucratic mess, exists real hazards faced by real communities. And the hazards they face require intervention now!
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