Nagaland Pollution Control Board and Kohima district administration lead Seicierü River drainage cleanliness drive to improve sanitation.
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DIMAPUR — In an effort to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment, the Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPBC), in collaboration with Kohima district administration, Kohima Municipal Council (KMC), ward councillors, and colony authorities, organised a mass drainage cleanliness drive along the Seicierü River and its upper tributaries on Saturday.
In his address at the start of the drive, Deputy Commissioner of Kohima B Henok Buchem noted that the initiative was positively reciprocated by district authorities after being proposed by the NPCB, a DIPR report stated.
The deputy commissioner stated that the success of such exercise depends on teamwork and collective community participation.
Buchem raised concerns regarding the widespread use of septic soak pits by residents, citing Kohima's location in a high-risk seismic zone.
Since soak pits can destabilise soil and compromise building foundations, while direct sewage discharge into public drains poses environmental and health risks, he urged residents urged to transition to professional cesspool services.
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He further observed that while visitors often praise Kohima’s natural air and water quality, they frequently express disappointment regarding the town's sanitation and hygiene standards.
Invoking the proverb ‘cleanliness is next to godliness,’ he urged citizens to strive for a safer, cleaner urban environment.
Additionally, he suggested the KMC councillors present at the event develop a comprehensive master plan to modernise the current drainage system of Kohima.
Yanathung Kithan, NPCB scientist, remarked that while the cleanup was a demanding task, it was essential because accumulated waste does not dissipate naturally without human intervention.
Highlighting the legal gravity of the situation, he noted that the state government has already been penalised INR 200 crore, under the Polluter Pays Principle (PPP), with the case currently pending in the NGT court.
He issued a call to action for the public to wake up and take personal responsibility for reversing the decline of the region's air and water quality.
Chief Executive Officer of KMC Zapuno Sophie, KMC councillors, administrative officers, IPR officials, colony authorities and residents from Officer Hill colony, Para Medical/Merhülietsa colony, Supply colony, Lower Jail colony, and Lower PR Hill colony participated in the cleanliness drive.