Nagaland’s Environment and Climate Change Committee has raised serious concerns over waste management, river pollution, dumping sites and riverbed mining in Kohima, Chümoukedima and Dimapur.
KOHIMA — The State Committee on Environment and Climate Change, Nagaland, in its first comprehensive report, has raised “serious concerns” over waste management, indiscriminate dumping of waste into rivers and the status of dumping sites in Kohima, Chümoukedima and Dimapur.
The committee, headed by chairperson and Advisor for SCERT & Food Processing Achumbemo Kikon, adopted the report on August 18 following spot verifications of waste management facilities, dumping sites and river drainage systems in the three urban areas.
The report was tabled during the recently concluded ninth session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
Kohima: Regarding the Kohima Solid Waste Management Plant, which has remained non-functional since 2019, the committee observed that the prolonged idling of the public asset constituted a “serious lapse” and had deprived citizens of an efficient and scientific solid waste management system.
It recommended that the Urban Development department, Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) and Department of Municipal Affairs work together to lease out the plant, providing opportunities to local entrepreneurs, and ensure its full operationalisation at the earliest.
The committee also called for addressing impediments including manpower shortages, road connectivity problems caused by landslides and inadequate source segregation of waste.
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An Action Taken Report (ATR) on the revival of the plant has been sought within three months of the report being presented to the Assembly on September 1.
Established at an approximate cost of INR 48 crore, the plant has a 50-tonnes-per-day composting facility, sanitary landfill, leachate treatment plant and other machinery and equipment.
On the Dzüvürü (Mohon Khola) River, the committee recommended that the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC), in coordination with colony councils and relevant departments, intensify enforcement against indiscriminate dumping of solid waste and discharge of untreated septic and other waste into the river.
It also called for sustained awareness programmes, community participation, regular monitoring and installation of warning signs at vulnerable locations.
Similar measures were recommended for the Sanuorü River, where the committee flagged the dumping of plastic, septic and other waste. KMC, the Kohima Village Council and colony councils were asked to strengthen enforcement, awareness and monitoring along vulnerable stretches.
The committee also recommended bringing the New Secretariat Area and Nagaland Legislative Assembly Complex under an appropriate urban administrative framework to facilitate better urban planning, waste management and civic services.
The committee further expressed concern over the limited number of cesspool/desludging vehicles available to KMC. It recommended a comprehensive assessment of requirements and provision of adequate vehicles and related infrastructure, with an ATR within three months.
On the legacy dumping site at Meriema, the committee stressed sustained enforcement and monitoring to prevent illegal dumping and achieve the objective of a dumpsite-free Kohima. KMC was also asked to furnish a status report on mandatory source segregation and progress made.
Chümoukedima: At the Material Recovery Facility Composite Plant at Chümoukedima, the committee recommended continued and intensified awareness campaigns on household-level waste segregation. It encouraged greater involvement of educational institutions, community organisations, churches and ward authorities in promoting sustainable waste management.
During its inspection of the 5th Mile Model Village riverfront protection area, the committee raised concern over indiscriminate riverbed mining in the Chathe River and its tributaries, identifying it as a major cause of riverbank erosion, environmental degradation and deterioration of water quality.
While acknowledging restrictions imposed by the district administration on riverbed mining, including a ban on new permits, the committee called for stronger enforcement through regular inspections, coordinated monitoring and prompt action against violators.
Dimapur: At Urban Haat near the Old Dhansiri Bridge, the committee noted measures taken by the East Dimapur Town Council to prevent illegal sewage discharge along the Dhansiri Riverbank.
It recommended stronger enforcement against untreated sewage and other waste, installation of warning signage, regular surveillance to prevent illegal encroachments and awareness programmes targeting residents, commercial establishments and institutions along the riverbank.
On the Dimapur municipal dumping site, the committee appreciated the Dimapur Municipal Council’s initiatives on bio-remediation and implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. It nevertheless called for further strengthening of source segregation, waste collection, transportation and disposal systems.
The DMC was directed to furnish the latest status of the proposed new dumping site, including land identification, acquisition, development and the timeline for operationalisation. The committee urged that the process be expedited, citing environmental and public health concerns arising from the existing site’s proximity to residential areas.
The committee also recommended that urban local bodies utilise their own revenue and grant-in-aid funds to purchase necessary machinery, sanitation vehicles and other movable assets.
Most of the recommendations require the concerned departments and urban local bodies to submit ATRs within three months of the report’s presentation to the Assembly on September 1.