One-day seminar on the theme “waste management” with special reference to Kohima, organized by Environmental Studies department and Eco Club was held at Dr. Setu Memorial Hall, Alder College Kohima (ACK) with commissioner and secretary (Rtd) and founding member of Green Team Kohima, Thangi Mannen as the resource person on Thursday.
Mannen in her address while sharing on the importance of sustainable waste management in the state, expressed that it cannot be understated especially in view of the problem of plastic pollution, considered as second to the problem of climate change facing mankind today.
Mannen maintained that with increase in population and waste volume, there was urgent need to explore real solutions that were sustainable and community based. She highlighted the Government of India initiatives on Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016 /18 (GOI) the guidelines for sustainable waste management, the mandate of which goes beyond municipal areas. She informed that this rule in conjunction with Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 (GOI) and various other relevant rules spelt out clearly a host of practices that are to be implemented for ensuring proper waste management. Mannen informed that in compliance with the National Green Tribunal orders and the GOI’s SWM Rules 16-18, the Government of Nagaland has notified its Nagaland Integrated Waste Management Policy 2019 (NIWMP) on April 8, 2019, to attain sustainable waste management throughout the state by 2030.
She further added that the guiding principles of government rules and policy included no burning, focus on waste reduction as much as possible, decentralised solutions for maximum resource recovery under the concept of “MY Waste My Responsibility” etc.
She suggested various activities at ward level committee, involvement of clubs, NGOs, youth organisations, schools, etc to propagate the message for decentralised waste treatment such as community composting units and non-biodegradable waste segregation.
While pointing out that the immediate action needed was to initiate pilot wards by identifying from already existing wards’ undertaking, Mannen said that pilots could also be developed at the level of educational institutes, hotels and restaurants, government offices or at a ward/village level, through combination of knowledge and skill building as well developing the required infrastructure.
She shared her thought on how during events, participants could bring their own utensils or organisers invest in re-usable items as well as filtered or boiled water instead of single use plastic bottles. While agreeing that problem of pollution cannot be removed at one go, Mannen urged all the participants to be involved and be the change for cleaner environment.
Administrator, Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) Kovi Meyase in his brief address stressed the need to bring revolution in behavioural and mindset of the society to bring drastic change in waste management. He challenged the college students if they could spare one day in a year for cleanliness drive in the Kohima town.
Members of Green Team Kohima also addressed the gathering. Interaction session was also held with the resource person and KMC administrator during the seminar.
The programme was chaired by nodal officer extension services Zhapuvi Liegise, while vote of thanks was proposed by assistant professor department of Environmental Studies, Kevingunuo Angami.
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