It was revealed at a workshop held earlier this week that Nagaland generates 303.85 tonnes of waste per day (TPD), which translates to about 1,10,905.25 tonnes in a year from urban areas alone. As per the report submitted by 39 urban local bodies (ULBs) to the Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB), only 260 TPD is collected, leaving the remaining garbage to pollute the environment. It was also informed that Dimapur alone generates a staggering 90,000 to 100,000 kg of waste daily but not a single ULB currently has a scientific treatment plant. The only such facility in the state that was in Kohima has also been non-functional for years now. The state has been under the scanner of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) over environmental and waste management issues. For instance, the Eastern Zone Bench of the statutory body, which deals with environmental cases, had earlier directed the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) and the government of Nagaland to shift the waste dumpsite located at Sunrise colony, Burma Camp, by January 31, 2024, following which the DMC said that it had submitted the proposed alternative site to the government. However, there is no update about the proposal till date. The NGT is also said to have taken suo moto cognisance of the disturbing visuals of waste being accumulated at the Doyang Dam in June this year. The state government took notice of the situation and initiated steps to clean up the waste at the popular tourist site, but with no concrete solution in place, a similar sight could resurface.
While urban areas may account for a major portion of the waste generated in the state due to population factor, undermining the possible consequences of the total absence of waste management in rural areas can prove costly. With no waste collection systems in hundreds of villages spread across the state, there is no data on waste generation in such areas. People either litter in open spaces without proper treatment or burn it. But such practices can pollute the environment, pose severe health risks and make waste segregation practically impossible. The boost in the tourism section is also not helping the cause with visitors dumping waste, especially plastic items, in the forest and rivers. This calls for a multidimensional and holistic approach to tackling the issue. Responsible waste management practices, including proper segregation at source, recycling, reduction of waste production and reuse, should be encouraged. The government, on its part, should set up scientific waste treatment plants in both urban and rural areas. It also should give teeth to the recently formed urban local bodies by providing enough funds to address the issue. Most importantly, community participation is required to effectively address the menace. Sanitation is a collective responsibility.