KOHIMA— Nagaland Chief Conservator of Forest, Supongnukshi (Supong) Ao, has said that regulations to impose ban on single-use plastics have not been properly implemented in most districts in the state.
He cited instances of how people are still rampantly using single-use plastics (SUPs) in Kohima and other districts.
On the eve of World Environment Day, Eastern Mirror reached out to the CCF to get his view on the issues of plastic waste, which has become a major source of pollution.
It may be mentioned that the state government had earlier resolved during the ‘World Environment Day’ celebration in 2018 to make the state plastic-free and announced a total ban on single-use plastics in September 2019.
Ao recalled how there used to be a strict monitoring of SUPs during the Covid – 19 pandemic by the district administration and municipalities, but post Covid- 19 such monitoring and enforcement was not followed up.
“Now we find that the single-use plastics have become increasingly abundant,” he said and added that the only way to ban SUPs is through strict monitoring, which he said is not being done in many districts..
However, the official informed that districts like Dimapur, Chümoukedima and a few others have been complying with the order in implementing the ban on single-use plastic bags and other related items.
The CCF was of the view that implementation of the regulations and guidelines needs to be strengthened and followed up.
The official reminded that citizens are also expected to be aware of the ill-effects of SUP items and that necessary sensitisation on such issues should be made in the public domain.
While encouraging the 3 Rs – Reuse, Reduce and Recycle – Ao said that when people can reuse carry bags like the ones which are made of cloth for shopping, “we can reduce the circulation of single-use plastics in the system so public awareness would go a long way in phasing out the use of single-use plastics.”
He also said that despite the state government’s guidelines on plastic bottled water, the product is still available in the market.
Responding to a query, Ao stated that implementation of ban on SUPs has not been successful due to lack of monitoring and enforcement of the regulations.
He underscored the need to execute stricter enforcement by district administration and municipalities in their respective jurisdictions. “I think the general public should also demand implementation of those acts,” he suggested.
On the brighter side, the CCF apprised that many NGOs, community-based organisations and entrepreneurs are coming up to encourage banning of SUPs by advocating alternative solutions to replace SUPs.
In Nagaland too, people have started to use paper or leaf plates and bowls instead of the plastic items, he said.
Administrator of Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) T Lanusenla Longkumer, informed that the ban on single-use plastic items is still being enforced in the district, and that the KMC assigns its field staff to go around and impose penalties on those defying the order.
Apprising that they also have a district task force for elimination of single use plastics, the KMC administrator said the task would not be easy as long as the source from where the SUPs come from is not checked.
A 30-year-old man whose house is located along a drain near Monkhola Bridge informed that the watercourse is always clogged with plastic and other wastes as people continue to dump waste materials in it, causing inconveniences to residents of the area.
He also shared on the lack of civic sense among the residents who, despite repeated reminders, continue to throw garbage into the drain.
Another citizen who resides not very far away from a canal in New Market colony apprised that residents have knowledge about the negative consequences of dumping waste into drains but that they continue to do so, as they have no fear of punishment since the “authority never comes for inspection.”
During an inspection in some localities in Kohima, Eastern Mirror came across waste materials including plastic packaging covers, bags, bottles and containers strewn on the sidewalks, in dustbins at different shops and public domain as well as disposal sites.
