With no proper waste management mechanism, pollution grips Ukhrul
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul, August 01 2023: Ukhrul, the enchanting beautiful hill paradise of Manipur is slowly turning into an inhabitable place owing to the absence of long term waste management policies.

Sadly, Ukhrul town has no proper sewerage and drainage systems, no solid and liquid waste management system and any mechanism to monitor any form of pollution.

Ukhrul being a hilly terrain, wastes from the upper slope run downstream silently polluting the bigger stream and causing serious environmental issues in low lying wetland areas.

Speaking to this correspondent, Leiyaphy Kasar, Executive Officer Small Town Committee, ADC Ukhrul said the annual waste generation of Ukhrul town is around 30.04 metric tonne.

With no proper waste management mechanism, pollution grips Ukhrul

Three trucks were used regularly for transporting garbage to the dumping site for waste disposal.

The traditional method of waste disposal along NH 202 has attracted much opposition and been stopped since April 2023, she said.

The Lower Hunpung Public Organisation (LHPO) has been protesting against the unscientific waste disposal at the dumping site and demanding the shiftment of the dumping site from the village.

The ever increasing waste and widespread open dumping of waste has contaminated and highly polluted the streams in the town.

Some villagers have even temporarily stopped cultivation, she said.

Not only the water has become turbid with pollutants and smells horribly, villagers have been complaining of abnormal increase in mosquitoes and fly pollution in the recent time.

Meanwhile the CEO, ADC Ukhrul David Kashungnao said a temporary dumping site has been identified at Kasomphung areas and the current issue of waste management will be dealt with very soon.

A group of young persons of Ukhrul town "Khamatek Society'' knowing the situation had swung into action for salvaging the plastic waste of the town.

Secretary of Khamatek M Zimik stated that seeing the urgency and to ameliorate waste management of Ukhrul town, they installed 10 plastic bottle banks in Ukhrul town with the support of Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Manipur.

According to Zimik, they have collected over 5000 bottles to be sent to Imphal for recycling.

Moreover, Khamatek adopted Tangrei locality of Ukhrul as "Plastic free locality", he said.

The 15-member team are working relentlessly to minimize the plastic waste generated by the town, he said.

"We dedicate two hours to social work every Saturday from 7-9 am.

We cleared clogged drainage, collected plastic bottles, cleaned the road and also conducted poster campaigns," he said.

He also added that the team have been conducting door to door campaigns on household waste segregation and hygienic management as a part of Ukhrul Green Movement.

The team have been educating the locals about the concept of conversion of wet waste to wealth by composting the materials, he added.

The Deputy Commissioner, Ukhrul Zuringla Kengoo in the meantime lauded Khamatek Society for their concern and coming up with the concept of installing Plastic bottle bank in Ukhrul to ensure cleanliness in the town.

To support the initiative of the Khamatek Society, the DC also donated 5 plastic bottle banks.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Ningsem Vashum also sponsored 4 banks while DFO Ukhrul Shangam Shaliwo also extended monetary assistance for installation of 2 bottle banks in Ukhrul town.

Kengoo Zuringla along with representatives from various localities also discussed key issues concerning waste management in the district.

She also provided an overview of the waste management challenges faced by the district and the difficulty to find garbage dumping sites in Ukhrul.

They unanimously agreed and decided that every household in Ukhrul Headquarters would obtain a Waste Collection Card from Small Town Committee (STC), ADC, Ukhrul, at a cost of Rs 200 besides laying down other rules to alleviate the waste management issue.

It was agreed that all households must adhere to the rules and segregate waste materials at the source including plastic, diapers, sanitary napkins, torn clothes, and expired medicines for appropriate disposal.

Fine system for unruly dumping and disposal of waste at roadsides, highways, and streams was also adopted.

It may be mentioned that a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order has banned the open burning of waste.