Foul smell emitted by trash-filled rivulets and drains in urban areas of Nagaland as well as heaps of trash strewn on roadsides even after extensive awareness programmes on waste management and appeals made by the concerned authorities to maintain cleanliness, clearly tell that the issue is more than just lack of urban planning. It is a social problem. We are stuck in a situation where everybody wants basic amenities and talks about the importance of community hygiene but not many contribute towards it. One major issue that comes with rapid urbanisation across the world is waste management. With people from villages and rural areas continuing to flock to urban settlements like Dimapur and Kohima in droves for work, education, better opportunities and other reasons, it is natural for these major commercial hubs of Nagaland to face unprecedented challenges including sanitation issues. While substantial increase in the volume of waste produced by these towns is putting undue stress on the authorities, lack of ci
vic sense among citizens and disrespect for rule of law is not helping the quest to shed “dirtiest city” tag earned during the nationwide annual cleanliness survey 2020. It is impossible to keep a city clean without consistent and conscious co-operation from the public and robust municipal council with sufficient funds. Sadly, Nagaland’s urban settlements like Dimapur and Kohima are cash-strapped, thanks to long delay in election to the urban local bodies, besides poor waste management, which is polluting water, soil and air as well as poses threat to health.
However, it is possible to turn the tide and change the current gloomy situation if the people adopt proper waste management practices and the government sets up scientific waste treatment plants. The fact that a major chunk of waste produced by households is biodegradable and recyclable makes the task of effective waste management even easier as it can be efficiently disposed of naturally. While it is the duty of municipal councils or government empanelled vendors to collect garbage daily, citizens should play their role of segregating waste – dry (plastics, metals, glass, paper), wet and electronics – before handing over to collectors. That’s the least individuals can do to help a city manage its waste. Bulk waste generators like housing societies, institutions and commercial establishments should contribute towards community hygiene and reduce the burden on waste management infrastructure by adopting on-site composting solutions and segregating waste at source. People also should shed the habit of open dum
ping and burning of dry waste, including plastics, as it is harmful to the environment and pollutes the air. No amount of effort by government agencies can effectively address waste management challenges if the people do not perform tasks as simple as segregating waste at source.