Imperilling the environment

Nagaland faces a mounting waste management crisis, with over 300 tonnes of waste generated daily across the state. According to the Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB), 39 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), comprising three municipal councils and 36 town councils, collectively generate 303.85 tonnes of waste per day (TPD). Of this, approximately 260 TPD is collected, leaving 43 tonnes untreated each day. Over a month, this amounts to 1,315.5 tonnes of untreated waste, and annually, it escalates to a staggering 15,786 tonnes.The problem is particularly acute in Dimapur, Nagaland’s largest urban center, which generates nearly 100,000 kilograms of waste daily. Alarmingly, 50% of this waste is organic, yet there are no efficient systems in place to process or manage it. The lack of proper waste disposal mechanisms, especially in rural areas where records of daily waste generation are absent, highlights a dire gap in the state’s waste management infrastructure. The NPCB’s revelations underlines a pressing need for comprehensive waste management strategies in both urban and rural regions. While urban centres like Dimapur grapple with massive waste volumes, rural areas face challenges due to unrecorded and untreated waste. Improper disposal of waste poses significant risks to human and animal health, contaminates the environment, and disrupts ecosystems. In Dimapur, the situation is further aggravated by the location of the city’s primary dumping site in a densely populated area, posing hazards to nearby residents. The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Eastern Zone Bench in Kolkata, had earlier directed the government to relocate this dumping site, citing risks to public health. However, despite identifying an alternative site in February, the relocation process remains incomplete. To address this escalating crisis, immediate and sustained efforts are required. Residents and authorities alike must adopt proactive waste management practices. Residents in colonies and neighbourhoods should be encouraged to segregate waste at source and adopt composting methods for organic waste. Educational initiatives could help raise awareness about the benefits of such practices, reducing the burden on central waste collection systems. Civic bodies must prioritize operationalizing alternative waste management projects, particularly in high-waste-generating cities like Dimapur. The development of dedicated processing facilities for organic, recyclable, and hazardous waste is essential. The government should also enforce stringent waste segregation and treatment policies, ensuring that untreated waste is minimized. Regular audits and penalties for non-compliance could incentivize proper waste disposal practices. Establishing record-keeping systems and waste management infrastructure in rural areas is critical. Targeted programs to educate and empower rural communities can create sustainable waste management systems. Nagaland’s growing waste problem is a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive and efficient waste management systems. All the efforts at beautification of any town or city is rendered meaningless if garbage collection and disposal remains largely inefficient. Authorities must prioritize public health and environmental sustainability, ensuring that waste disposal becomes a cornerstone of urban and rural development. Delays in addressing this issue will only compound the problem, posing greater risks as toxic chemicals percolate down to the groundwater with catastrophic consequences in the near future. Everything rests on creating and sustaining a healthy environment, which ought to be among the priorities of development.