Cleanliness still a far cry in Imphal city
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Babina Elangbam

Imphal, January 21 2015: Maintenance of cleanliness and sanitation is necessary to keep one's health fit and usage of latrine/toilet to dispose human excreta is very much required.

According to a report of UNICEF, one gram of human faeces (excreta) contains 10000000 viruses, 1000000 bacteria and 1000 parasite cysts.

However, there is lack of awareness on sanitation in a developing country like India which is mostly populated by poor people.

Villagers are seen discharging excreta in open fields which should be avoided to protect from various diseases.

Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao in this regard, L Swamikanta, Director of Communication & Capacity Building Unit (CCDU) under Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), said that under the ambitious Swachh Bharat Mission which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2, 2014, a target has been set to construct 2 lakh toilets within 2019 in the State.

He informed that there is a provision under the scheme to give Rs 12, 000 to each BPL and APL families residing in villages for construction of Individual House Hold Latrine (IHHL).

As per reports received by CCDU up to January 19 this year, a total of 220476 IHHL have been constructed for 12971 BPL and 4827 APL families in Bishnupur; 14885 BPL and APL families in Chandel; 22013 BPL and 4001 APL families in Churachandpur; 13014 BPL and 11676 APL families in Imphal East; 19234 BPL and 4476 APL families in Imphal West; 42739 BPL and 14795 APL families in Senapati; 12600 BPL and 1552 APL families in Tamenglong; 20628 BPL and 9357 APL families in Thoubal; 2664 BPL and 9044 APL families in Ukhrul.

Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) in association with NGOs has been trying to maintain cleanliness in the city.

Management of Municipal Solid Waste has been formed to collect wastes from each household.

According to a worker engaged in a NGO, there are many families who do not want to be member of the door to door solid waste management plan.

A sum of Rs 150 and Rs 70 is taken for collecting waste materials from commercial and non-commercial areas respectively.

Door to door collection of waste materials is an effective measure to maintain cleanliness in the city.

However, many people who are not members of the management plan indulged in dumping of waste materials in open areas.

Cleanliness will not be maintained without community hygiene, he observed.

It may be mentioned that dumping of waste materials at KRIPSA Ground, Langol by IMC has been stopped after locals of Langol protested over the practice citing threat to health and foul smell emanating from it.

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