Sometime last year, a very innovative and noble venture was initiated. Sheetal garbage bins in sets of two – one blue and the other green–were planted along the highways of Kohima Town. The bins had the round emblem of Kohima Municipal Council. The instruction on the bins read: “Always throw in garbage bin – Keep your city clean,” along with the now famous slogan: “Mission Clean India – One Step Towards Cleanliness.”
In their initial days, the bins were emptied of their garbage contents in the early hours. Sadly though, they have been left unattended now for days together. The bins are overflowing with filth, and this attracts people looking for an easy reach to throw their wastes. The once tidy place around the bins is now filled with trash. The site has thus becomeaneyesore to the surrounding – quite the opposite of the beautiful slogans.
As it is usual with public property and our so called civic sense, many of these bins are now found missing or damaged in several localities. This may be to avoid the unwanted litter and to vent one’s anger at the unattended mess.
During the late seventies, before the coming of PCO’s and the advent of mobile phones, telephone booths were installed in prominent places in Kohima Town. However, these booths could service hardly two or three weeks. But aren’t we now supposed to be highly educated and better equipped with civic sense?
The concerned authority should attend to the problem and start cleaning the bins regularly. Otherwise, this has become a nuisance and another step towards dirtiness.
V. Meyase
Sepfüzou Colony, Kohima
