State gears up for Lamyanba Irawat, Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary
IMC to conduct drive to check building norms soon
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, September 29 2019: To celebrate 123rd birth anniversary observance of Lamyanba Hijam Irawat tomorrow and 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2, a cleanliness drive was held in and around the Khwairamband Ima Keithel today.

The drive was jointly organised by the Municipal Administration, Housing and Urban Development (MAHUD) and Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) along with the Manipur Police Department, Manipur Fire Service, women vendors of Ima Keithel and different Civil Society Organisations.

Addressing media persons at Khwairamband Ima Keithel, MAHUD Minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar said the task of keeping the Asia's largest women's market neat and clean is impossible without the support of all the stakeholders, including the women vendors and customers.

Stating that cleanliness is next to godliness, he hoped that a clean Manipur will put the State in the tourist map of the world which will eventually create more opportunities.

He further said the MAHUD and IMC are also carrying out the Swachhata Hi Seva (cleanliness is true service) campaign to create awareness on the Nationwide ban of single-use plastics from the 2nd October.

The campaign is being carried out across the State by the district administrations, he added.

Stating that plastic has toxic pollutants that damage the environment and cause land, water, and air pollution, he said burning of the plastics in open air causes environmental pollution and releases poisonous chemicals causing deadly diseases like cancer.

Appealing the citizens to replace plastic with biodegradable items, he said plastic pollution is a major cause of concern for the world.

He also appealed everyone to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Replying to a query on the building and shop guidelines of the IMC, he said survey on the buildings constructed in and around the Khwairamband Keithel will soon be over and drive will start after 2nd October to check whether shops and buildings are properly following the guidelines and building bye-laws of the IMC.

Legal action will be taken against the shops and buildings which are found violating the guidelines, he added.

It may be noted that Manipur will join the Nation in banning six items made of plastics in an attempt to scrap single-use plastic in the State from October 2, 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has set the goal to make India free of single-use plastics by 2022, had appealed to the Nation to stop the use of single-use plastic in his speech on India's Independence Day this year.

The banned items include plastic bags, cups, plates, small bottles, straws and certain types of sachets.

The ban on the first six items of single-use plastics will clip 5-10 percent from India's annual consumption of about 14 million tonnes of plastic.

Single-use plastics, often also referred to as disposable plastics, are commonly used for packaging and include items intended to be used only once before they are thrown away or recycled.

Today's cleanliness drive was also attended by Corporator Ward No 25 Sujata Phoamei, Corporator Ward No 18 Laimayum Inungnganbi Devi, MAHUD Commissioner M Joy Singh, IMC Commissioner K Chandrakumar Singh, IMC Administrator Ksh Lemba Singh, Assistant Municipal Commissioner Samuel Moirangthem, Assistant Municipal Commissioner Ksh Gyanendra Singh, IMC workers, women vendors of Ima Keithel and officials of police and Fire Service.

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