Garbage pile-up at the Dimapur dumping grounds. (MExPiX/Merenkumla)
Morung Express News
August 27
Dimapur: The Chairman of Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), V. Awomi, disclosed that the Dimapur Dumping Area which is situated at Burma Camp, a few kilometers away from the main city has already been filled to its maximum space. According to the Chairman, the 9 acres of dumping area is not sufficient for the growing amount of waste due to the growing population of Dimapur.
The dumping area is officially maintained and looked after by the DMC. The area of the land is about 9 acres, purchased in 1996.
Awomi also informed that some officials of the Pollution Control of Delhi inspected the dumping area last year and had remarked that the area was completely below water level.
However, DMC further said, “Even if we had the funds and support from the Government for a new dumping area, the problem lies at getting hold of a land site, because the public refuses to sell the land once we mention that it’s for dumping garbage”.
He added that if the DMC could purchase an area somewhere in Singrijan or after crossing Chumukedima, it would take not less than two hours to unload the garbage.
Still he expressed reservations that and no matter “what modern machinery that we use will fail to finish the entire cleaning work”.
The Chairperson said that since Dimapur was lacking a proper city plan, it was extremely difficult for cleaning vehicles to clean-up smaller areas with narrow roads.
“We take maximum time to clean up the garbage in the city. To finish daily working it takes extra time, when we actually are supposed to finish early, it takes the whole day. We have no option but to look for a new dumping area” Awomi said.
He also expressed hope that the Government would look into the matter immediately.
He informed that two sites have been located so far. One was in Kushabil area and the other was somewhere near the brickfields.
The DMC is yet to decide which plot would be suitable for the new dumping ground.
After making a selection, the DMC will be sending the project to the State Government soon.
Every monsoon Dimapur faces a lot of problems since the dumping area is located near paddy fields.
“We have put enough of sand gravels for the past 2-3 years. However, during rainy seasons, the sand gravel washes away or sinks into the ground and the mud becomes very slushy so tractors finds it difficult to go through” Awomi said.
The Chairperson also lamented that most citizens have no civic sense and just throw garbage or litter the roads causing blockages on the main roads.
The DMC had requested the army for assistance at the Ranghapahar cantonment and the latterhad agreed to provide bulldozers.
“Today is the third day they are working and will continue to work for another one week. If at all we have to hire the bulldozers provided by the army, I was told that for a one hour charge it was more than 1500. However they have made it free of cost for 8-9 days.”
The chairperson expressed gratitude to the army particularly to Colonel BS Sandhu, Colonel Bhimanand and Major HB Choudhary of the 51 Engineering Regiment.
