Imphal city turned into dumping ground by many
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 17 2025: Imphal city has the most iconic market in the form of historic Khwairamband Ima Keithel.

However, people in the heart of the city can't ignore or not feel sorry for the filthy garbage piled up on the road-sides and litter dotting the streets and the markets.

"People see it, but no one takes it as their duty to keep the city and its markets neat and clean," said a group of senior citizens strolling inside the BT Park. There aren't adequate dustbins, and even when there are some, people find it more convenient to just throw plastic bottles and waste on road-sides and drainages, said a senior citizen.

Imphal city turned into dumping ground by many

People will chew gum and consume canned food or drinks on the road, and they will throw the covers and cans on the road-sides.

They don't want to carry the waste they generate and throw them in proper places, he said.

All over Imphal city, this reporter could see roads and marketplaces littered with paper, plastic and vegetable waste.

Even the plastic bottle banks installed in many parts of Imphal city are filled with other waste materials.

Under the Smart City Project, many changes have been brought and there is development, but people must really change their ways to make Imphal smart and clean, said another senior citizen.

From residents, shop-owners and vendors to people visiting the marketplaces, they must really become aware that their most insignificant and not thought of behaviour of throwing waste carelessly is polluting the city, said the senior.

"Unless people change their habits and ways, Imphal would struggle to become a clean and smart city," he said.

When asked what may be the reason for this harmful behaviour of the people, he said, "education and their habit of blaming others" .

"None take it as their own civil duty to keep the city clean.

People seem to think only the IMC is responsible for keeping the city and the markets neat and clean," he said.

The Imphal Municipal Corporation is indeed responsible, but people shouldn't just ignore their social responsibility, he added.

"If you generate waste, you must be responsible for disposing of it safely," said the senior.

There is some truth in people blaming the IMC and Government authorities for the pollution in the city.

There must be a proper waste disposal system, regular cleaning, proper places for disposal and adequate dustbins in and around the city, he said.

Imphal has seen immense changes over the years.

The Smart City Project has brought development.

However, with development, roads and marketplaces have become increasingly congested, which is one of the reasons for the pollution in the city, said another in his mid-80s.He said, "Imphal's markets smell bad.

There are vegetable waste lying around giving out foul smells, and there is the smell of urine all over." People, mostly men, could be seen urinating in any remote corner they find, he said.

Adequate and proper waste bins and more toilet complexes should be installed in and around the marketplaces, he said.

There are a large number of police personnel deployed inside the city, however, they aren't seen enforcing law and giving directives to people to properly discard waste and against urinating in public places, said the senior.

"When IMC pauses its cleaning job for a day or two, mounds of filth can be seen piling up on the road-sides.

There must be a strict system in place.

The waste deposit shouldn't become a mound taller than some of the shops," he said.

People adopt the best practices, and the IMC doing its duty sincerely would help clean the city, he added.

Khwairamband Ima Keithel is the mirror for Manipur.

Every tourist who visits the State visits the market.

It must be kept neat and clean since it is a reflection of Manipur, he said.

"One can't help but feel ashamed seeing the market shabby and filthy in vlogs uploaded by foreign YouTubers," he added.

The vendors in the market have a larger role to play in keeping the complex clean and tidy.

It is the collective responsibility of the vendors, people and the IMC, he said.