Limeka Achumi
Dimapur | December 19
There has always been a dispute on who is responsible for the uncleanliness caused by the dumping of waste in Dimapur. Most of the time, it culminated in favour of the team standing against the government bodies.
There seems to be is a predominant notion that the state government bodies are accountable for any and every unhealthy condition of the state, especially in terms of garbage disposal. A public impression, that they can put the entire responsibility of the clutter on the shoulders of the State. But then what about the public and the people themselves?
The public for long have failed to recognize the vitality for each and every residence to segregate the waste materials before disposing them. Thereby, assisting the State in implementing plans and projects created for the welfare of the public. Most of the residents in Signal Bosti, Dimapur were questioned whether they emphasized and practised the effort of waste segregation in their homes. Few nodded, while the several rest shook their heads and tried to give credence for their actions.
Chishi, a resident stated “What gain would it be when eventually all the wastes collected by the dump trucks are being dumped together? I have no assurance that separate vehicles have been assigned.”
Some even debated on how it was relevant when the process of not segregating the wastes at homes didn’t pose as a threat.
Waste is a global issue and the nation for long has been showing signs of garbage mismanagement, considering its impact on the land, water, air, animals and humans themselves. The key for betterment is when we start to put our concern into action. Yes, it may run at a snail’s pace but as long as the process is sustainable and the living conditions are in safe hands.
During a quick visit to the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), the question about the inconveniences faced by the Sanitation branch was brought up. To this, the Assistant Sanitation Inspector Vinoto stated that it would be a lie if he mentioned about having no impediments on the road. They have plans but are buckling down to create a better tomorrow, he asserted.
One of the many hindrances, as disclosed by Vinoto was, “few people tend to throw away their garbage on sidewalks and gutters, instead of using the place allocated.”
It is also to be noted that the place allocated are visited by the DMC vehicles every morning to collect the waste and unload them in the DMC dump yard in Burma Camp. The DMC Sanitation branch has commissioned around 30 tractors and dump trucks for the very purpose of going to each colony and collecting the dump.
The DMC dump yard is also daily sprayed with GE Bio Culture, a medicinal product of Geetanjali Envirotech brought from Kolkata. Vinoto also mentioned that Raagini Jaain, the founder and CEO of Geetanjali Envirotech is expected to be paying an inspection visit to Dimapur the following month.
It would be considered as a bias argument if the statement continued and concluded against the public that they are to be completely judged for the unhealthy environment, which is untrue. Because, in certain cases the public, have also lend a helping hand in the cause for a cleaner surrounding.
Samerjeet, who owns a convenience store in Lhomithi village, Dimapur along with the neighbouring retailers had put their hand into cleaning the dump of wastes rotting across the road opposite to their stores.
When Ashibo, a homemaker was asked where she threw the garbage, her reply was “the DMC has allocated a dump site in the colony where I stay and that’s where the garbage goes. I believe cleanliness starts from home.”
The writer is currently an intern at The Morung Express.
