DC Kohima, B Henok Buchem chairing a meeting on sanitation and waste management convened at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference hall, Kohima on May 12. (DIPR Photo)
Kohima, May 12 (MExN): A meeting on sanitation and waste management was convened at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference hall, Kohima on May 12 with officials, community leaders, ward representatives and other stakeholders to deliberate on measures for effective waste management and sanitation in the district.
Deputy Commissioner, Kohima, B Henok Buchem, NCS who chaired the meeting, stressed on the need for collective responsibility in maintaining cleanliness and ensuring proper waste management practices, stated a DIPR report.
“Sanitation and waste management cannot be the responsibility of a single department or agency alone, but requires active participation from every citizen, colony and ward,” the DC emphasised. He urged all stakeholders to discuss practical and actionable solutions, both short-term and long-term, to address the growing sanitation concerns in Kohima.
Highlighting the issue of clogged drainages across the district, the DC said, “Blocked drains have become a major concern” and informed that a mission mode drive would be undertaken to address the problem. He requested councillors, colony chairmen and sector magistrates to work in coordination and strengthen communication mechanisms for effective implementation of sanitation measures across all 19 wards in the district, many of which have been divided into sectors under designated magistrates.
The DC further emphasised that segregation of waste at source has become essential and appealed to colony leaders to ensure that households cooperate in segregating waste into different categories. He also stressed on the importance of enhancing awareness activities and dissemination of IEC (Information, Education and Communication) materials at the grassroots level. He informed that a two-week IEC campaign would be undertaken to sensitise the public on waste segregation and sanitation practices.
Encouraging all stakeholders, the DC said meaningful progress can be achieved even by starting with available resources and gradually strengthening the system through collective efforts and community participation. He urged everyone to work together towards building a cleaner and more sustainable Kohima for the benefit of all.
Alemyapang Longchar, NCS, Chief Executive Officer, Kohima Municipal Council (KMC), informed that although several discussions had been held previously on waste segregation, implementation had remained a challenge. However, with the support of the district administration, efforts are now being intensified under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0.
The CEO informed that under SBM-U 2.0, the Government of India has been promoting scientific waste management practices and sustainable sanitation systems across urban areas. He stated that one of the key objectives is to ensure that all household waste is properly segregated into biodegradable, recyclable and other categories so that no waste ultimately reaches landfill sites untreated. He further informed that a target has been set to close all landfill areas by October 1, 2026.
The meeting was informed that waste would broadly be categorised into biodegradable waste, dry waste, sanitary waste and special care waste requiring separate handling and disposal mechanisms. Emphasis was also laid on expanding awareness campaigns to every colony and household, after which sanitation committees would take responsibility for monitoring implementation. It was informed that fines and penalties would be imposed for non-compliance once the awareness phase is completed.
During the interaction session, participants, community leaders and officials highlighted various challenges faced in waste management including shortage of sanitation workers, inadequate funding, lack of vehicles and maintenance issues. Concerns were also raised regarding the disposal of bio-medical and hospital waste, which require specialised handling and treatment systems.
Earlier the meeting started with a presentation by a representative from Prege Eco Green Foundation on the topic “Converting Waste to Worth: A Sustainable Solution for Kohima.” The presentation highlighted the importance of segregation of waste at the household level itself, particularly separating wet and dry waste for effective disposal and recycling.
