The Hornbill Festival achieved a zero-plastic milestone as the MoHUA praised Nagaland’s sustainable practices and strong monsoon-preparedness efforts under the SABB campaign.
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DIMAPUR — Nagaland has emerged as a leading example in sustainable waste management, with the Hornbill Festival achieving a zero-plastic milestone and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) recognising the state’s monsoon-readiness efforts under the Safai Apnao Bimaari Bhagao (SABB) campaign.
In its recent report, the ministry highlighted the 26th edition of Hornbill Festival as a national model for demonstrating how large cultural celebrations can remain environmentally responsible.
The festival eliminated all single-use plastics, replacing them with bamboo straws, banana-leaf plates, bagasse cutlery and other biodegradable alternatives.
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According to the ministry’s report, the festival avoided over one million plastic items and prevented nearly 50 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions through sustainable practices such as on-site composting, recycling, waste segregation, and local sourcing of materials.
Trained volunteers guided visitors on responsible disposal, while 42 well-maintained toilets enhanced hygiene standards across the festival grounds, it stated.
SABB sanitation drive
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs reported that Nagaland stood out among north-eastern states during the Safai Apnao Bimaari Bhagao (SABB) campaign—a nationwide initiative under Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban 2.0 aimed at improving sanitation and public health preparedness ahead of the monsoon season.
It stated that urban local bodies in Tuensang, Bhandari, Pfutsero, Mokokchung, Kohima and Dimapur, along with remote towns such as Tening and Tizit, carried out intensive pre- and post-monsoon activities, including drain cleaning, health camps, and school awareness programmes.
Nearly 5,000 participants took part in 60 cleanliness drives, 30 rainwater harvesting initiatives, and 40 monsoon-related awareness campaigns, significantly improving drainage, waste management and hygiene measures across the state.
According to the ministry, Nagaland’s proactive approach helped mitigate waterlogging risks, reduce vector-borne diseases, and strengthen overall community health resilience during the monsoon.