Mokokchung group distributes waste bins for town

Our Correspondent Mokokchung, April 30 (EMN): A group called the ‘clean Mokokchung campaign’ (CMC), formed by likeminded persons advocating a greener and plastic-free environment, gave away waste bins sponsored by the State Bank of India (SBI) on Tuesday in Mokokchung. The CMC was formed in 2018 to work for ‘social change’ and ‘combat the ever-increasing waste mismanagement’ and to advocate the use of biodegradable products. Over the years, the small group has been organizing seminars on solid waste management; and distributing eco-friendly waste bins to institutions, besides keeping waste bins in public areas. During the programme, the additional deputy commissioner of Mokokchung W Manpai asserted that the increase in waste and plastic pollution was ‘because of the expansion of the urban areas.’ He added that waste can be controlled if the stakeholders including the denizens of the town take the responsibility of ‘containing plastic’ and other waste that cause environmental degradation. Manpai acknowledged the work initiated by the CMC to bring social change through various campaigns and logistical support. Also, the officer urged the SBI to target proactive group like the CMC to bring transformation in the community in the area of waste management. Manpai, also the administrator of the Mokokchung Municipal Council (MMC), asserted that the council had been adopting ‘new systems of waste collection in the town.’ It has been upgrading themselves with ‘new techniques of waste management’ to cope with waste pollution there, he said. He added that a solid waste management plant will be set up soon for Mokokchung. Nevertheless, he opined that waste management and segregation of waste should start from the individual and from the household. Twenty waste bins will be kept in various wards and public areas in the town.