Imphal, May 20, 2010: Even as the Imphal Municipal Council has put several NGOs into action for door-to-door collection of waste material from the municipality areas of Imphal since the past couple of years, Chief Minister Ibobi's dream of making Imphal a clean city has still miles to go.

With piles of decomposed waste matter lying all over at various localities like Nagamapal, Paona Bazar, Allu Gali, Khurai Lamlong and Checkon road and many other localities, it is apparent that Imphal Municipal Council has still lots to do in this regard.

When The Sangai Express asked the NGOs concerned why they have failed to clear the garbage regularly, they put the blame on the State Government saying that it is not possible to collect the waste matters daily at the rate of only Rs 50 per month per house, fixed by the Government.

Workers' Union Manipur, Seven Security Service, CRED and TACDF are currently engaged with the job of door-to-door collection and cleaning up of waste piles at Khwairamband market and its adjoining areas and localities which fall under Uripok, Singjamei, Sagolband, Thangmeiband, Yaiskul, Keishamthong and Wang-khei A/Cs.

Worker Union Manipur (WUM) Vice-President Leishangthem Premjit said, "As the Government has not provided proper dumping site and the charge fixed by the Government is too less, it is not possible to send our workers everyday".

Nongmaithem Jibanniala a resident of Sagolband Moirang Leirak, said that the waste collectors pick up wastes in.

piles every one or two weeks.

Another woman, at Nagamapal Lamabam Leikai however said that there are times when waste matters have not been not collected for long compelling the residents to dump it at road-sides.

As these used-up heaps are kept for long, it has become hazardous to health to nearby people especially during rainy and warm season.

Kangjam Tombisana, a vegetable vendor at Hao Keithel said, 'The stench from the waste have made many people sick on many occasions, so antibiotic chemicals like Phenyl must be atleast sprayed if it is not cleaned up regularly".

Murari Lai Sharma, a shopkeeper at MG Avenue, said, as no dustbin has been kept' anywhere, people dump things at every nook and corner of the citv making it so messy.

At this juncture, even people residing at the adjoining localities of IMC area expressed desire that the door-to-door collection of waste matters be extended to their localities.

Nongmaithem Shanti-ala Devi of Khurai Lairikyengbam Leikai said, "It is a big problem to dispose off waste matters for people having less space in residential area, so it will be a welcome change if the authorities extend the door-to-door service to the areas outside municipality area"'.

However, at JNIMS Hospital, the institute has its own waste management team headed by Additional Superintendent Dr Y Gopalkrishna Singh.

Following the guidelines of the Manipur Pollution Control Board, the waste management team segregates wastes as general waste, non-sharps, anatomical waste and sharps.

General wastes are out in green coloured dustbins and it is picked up by WUM truck.

Non-sharps are dumped into red bins, while anatomical wastes are put in yellow bins which are treated before dumping it in deep burial pits.

Sharps are put in white bins and then treated with disinfectants before dumping.

However the hospital does not have Incinerator machine and liquid management plant.

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