Dimapur Municipal Council struggles to tackle persistent garbage dumping along Midland-Dhobinala road amid public health concerns
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DIMAPUR — On early Sunday morning, while most of Dimapur was still asleep, an excavator and a dumper truck belonging to the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) were at work along the Midland-Dhobinala road, clearing heaps of garbage.
The exercise, now a routine, highlights the persistent waste management challenge along one of the city's busiest stretches.
Exactly a month ago, three pig carcasses were found dumped near Dimapur Club along the same road, triggering outrage among locals over the indiscriminate disposal of animal remains and raising concerns over sanitation and public health.
Despite being located in the heart of the city, the Midland-Dhobinala stretch continues to double as an open dumping ground, posing a nuisance to the public as well as a challenge for DMC sanitation workers tasked with clearing the waste daily.
The area, situated in Dimapur's commercial hub, is home to schools, hospitals, eateries and the prominent Dimapur Club.
However, indiscriminate dumping of garbage throughout the day has turned the stretch into an eyesore and a potential health hazard.
For the sanitation workers, clearing the waste has become a daily battle.
By the time one round of cleaning is done, fresh piles of waste—from household trash to commercial refuse—begin accumulating within hours.
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Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) councillor and sanitation in-charge I Sentinuklu Jamir told this newspaper that DMC workers continue to clear the stretch every morning as part of their routine duties.
However, he said the area remains more challenging to manage compared to other colonies.
Jamir stressed the need for sustained monitoring and stricter action against illegal dumping to prevent the situation from recurring.
He said the problem was compounded by passersby and residents of nearby colonies who allegedly throw garbage from their vehicles or dump waste under the cover of darkness to avoid being noticed.
Pointing out that designated timings for garbage disposal were frequently violated, Jamir said people continued to dump waste even beyond the stipulated hours.
He added that the absence of a designated public dustbin in the area had left the council with limited alternatives, making it difficult to shift or relocate the dumping point to another designated site.
Jamir further said that green sheets had earlier been installed along the stretch to discourage indiscriminate dumping, but were subsequently removed by unidentified persons.
Lamenting that the dumping area had continued to expand, he said the entire stretch had now turned into a garbage ground.
Acknowledging that measures taken so far, including plantation drives, had failed to bring about the desired results, Jamir said the council was now considering collaborating with nearby groups or colonies to address the issue.
He expressed hope that the proposed initiative would yield results, adding that the problem went beyond the DMC and concerned public health, safety and the overall image of the city.