Besides showcasing its rich cultural heritage and traditions
to thousands of visitors at the just concluded Hornbill Festival, Nagaland has
earned praise for its waste management initiative, thanks to the collaborative
efforts of three teams – Green Guard, Human Matrix Securite, and Züb Züb India
– not forgetting the volunteers, who were responsible for not only keeping the
venue clean but also segregating waste at source. It was informed that more
than 80% of waste collected daily at the festival site was recycled and sent
for composting. Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the state for
its sustainable waste management and sustainability practice at the festival,
the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on Wednesday acknowledged the state
for its zero-waste and single-use plastic (SUP)-free initiative. “The festival
aligned with global sustainability goals, aimed to become a benchmark for
eco-friendly events in India,” stated the ministry, adding that Nagaland had
led the way in how events can be harmonised with environmental conservation.
Keeping the venue clean as well as segregating waste generated by more than
20,000 visitors daily on average is not a mean task, but Nagaland did it. It’s
indeed an initiative that is worth emulating and should be adopted at similar
events and public gatherings. Such efforts can significantly reduce
environmental pollution caused by waste, especially non-biodegradable items
like plastics.
While the waste management practice at Naga Heritage Village
in Kisama during the Hornbill Festival was commendable, the same can’t be said
about the rest of the state, especially Dimapur and Kohima, which are grappling
with the dirtiest city tag as well as gaining notoriety for poor air quality.
As per the official report, Nagaland generates 303.85 tonnes of waste per day
(TPD) from urban areas alone, with Dimapur accounting for a staggering 90,000
to 1,00,000 kg of waste daily, but there is not a single functional treatment
plant. The National Green Tribunal had earlier pulled up the state for its poor
waste management practice. This is in stark contrast to what was seen at
Kisama. The state government and the ULBs can learn a lesson or two from the
Kisama experience and adopt a similar cleanliness approach. It should start with
strict implementation of the single-use plastic ban, which the government has
announced several times over the past six years following failure in execution.
The concerned authorities also should expand the door-to-door waste collection
initiative, at least in urban areas and set up scientific waste treatment
plants. The state should take sustainable waste management practices beyond
Kisama.
