Dr. K. B. Agrawal
Cleanliness is Godliness. It is a very old Proverb, then why in our own town we are not so alert about cleanliness? For Example, just look at and go around the lanes and by lanes of Duncan Basti, which is very much under Dimapur Municipal Committee (DMC) jurisdiction, you will find filth, garbage and wastes everywhere, just on the main road or side road. This is not a sight of a day, but you can witness it weeks together. If such condition exists in such a posh area then think about the most congested areas as well. It seems that DMC has abandoned the cleanliness drive in the town once forever.
We, the citizens who use to pay taxes in different forms like, road tax, water tax, light tax, property tax and so on, also do not bother to ask our officers concerned, why such situation is persisting? Answer may be, either lack of workers, lack of willingness or lack of effective mechanism.
Our honorable Ward Members who are the representative of DMC are also it seems, not much interested to see the city clean. Our top administration is also taking it at a last priority. Then, the solution lies only on the hands of our citizens. They have to come forward jointly or individually to fight with this menace. Voluntary groups can be formed in each ward, they will contact and pursue people to sort out waste material in different categories and put in a stalled dumping pit so that it will not be scattered on the road.
Every human being is born to witness the healthy environment in and around. Either it may be our own home, at work place, at prayer hall or our own town. Because being born and brought up in a particular town, we automatically have emotional attachment to it. We, one and all wants that we must have playing fields, parks, parking places, water supply, drainage, roads, lights and so on. But when we come across the pathetic conditions in our town in terms of roads, drainage, cleanliness, street lights then, nothing left only to cry from the heart.
Now let me pin- point some of the pathetic conditions, which are prevailing in our town and must be addressed at an earliest.
• Starting with Railway station Dimapur. It is one of the important stations as it connects long distance trains. Lakhs and lakhs passengers boarding and de-boarding, as it is a terminal point for Capital going persons. Thousands and thousands army personnel are coming and going from the station but look at the approach road towards the Railway station. In fact, there is no road, always full of mud and water and water logging all around. It apparently seems that it is like a “NO MAN’S LAND” that is why Railways and DMC do not bother to improve the conditions.
• I have not come across a single park in the town where as children, ladies and senior citizens and every one of us very badly needs it. Because for children it is for fun and play for ladies and senior citizens it is a place to stroll and feel relaxation and tranquility. I feel it is a simple demand, which can be very well attended by DMC. Yes, there is one Green Park, which is for picnickers only because it is five kilometer away from the town.
• In every town green belt concept is existing, because it is one of the set norms of the city planning. Here also we can very well develop green belts so that environmental hazards can be minimized.
• Now straightway I am coming to the most urgent need and requirement to improve the cleanliness conditions in the town. The existing staff/workers along with supervisors must be motivated to take as a challenge for improvement of the conditions. It should not be for a day as “Mass Cleanliness Drive”, but must be a regular feature. The workers must be provided to procure a waste, dumping in a set point, from where the trucks can be engaged to pick up and carrying up to the set disposal area. It is the prime and foremost duty of the DMC to provide healthier conditions for its citizens. More often, anti- malaria drives must be taken very effectively.
• Once our city is clean then, next step comes for its greenery. Undoubtedly due to thick jungles near the town greenery is substantially visible, but within the town much has to be done. Road dividers can be very well developed for this purpose. Plantation drive can be undertaken in every schools, collages, and offices. NGOs, Churches can be requested and assigned this task. Gradually it will become everybody’s job. Initially, DMC can very well activate its gardening department for plantation purposes.
• Let me mention here the examples of Surat (Gujarat). It was one of the most plague prone cities in India. But due to continuous efforts by the then Administrators (IAS Officers) and City Corporation people along with the locals, now it is one of the cleanest towns in the country. It is a shinning example for those who are determined and committed to a particular cause.
Very recently one USA based NGO was working hard in Gwalior (MP) to deal with the Kachra (Waste) menace. They are very much trained in “Waste Material Management”. They were teaching techniques and demonstrating to the locals, municipal corporators, employees, Officers and prominent public figures.
Some of the western countries have developed one of the most appealing system in which the citizens of a particular town or area are being advised to sort out the waste material in different categories like solid waste, disposal waste or in a dumping waste form. Put them in separate pack and hand it over to the collecting personnel. In turn they are being provided fresh vegetables, fresh fruits according to their contribution.
Okay, due to paucity of funds we cannot take such a gigantic step like Surat or Gwalior for improving health conditions, neither we can go to that extent which is operational in western countries but a little step can be very well put forward.
I sincerely request each and every one of us to come forward and join hands with DMC, and local Administration to face the above challenge.
