Naga Nulla choked with plastic bottles
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 13 2025: Even as the authorities have been carrying out an intensive drive against single use plastic products, Naga Nulla which flows right through the centre of Imphal city is flooded with used plastic bottles.

At some points of the rivulet, the water surface cannot be seen as it is covered by a thick layer of plastic bottles.

On the other hand, public response to the authorities' drive against single use plastics is either indifferent or uncooperative.

A joint team of MPCB, Directorate of Environment & Climate Change, IMC and Pathfinders Manipur carried out a drive against single use plastics along Nagamapal Road yesterday.

As soon as they learnt about the drive, shops which are said to be dealing in single use plastics pulled down their shutters.

These shops which normally opened at 7 am remained shut till 9 am today.

Shopkeepers and vendors were unanimous in their observation with these words, "The drive must be carried out everyday.

Periodic or temporary drives would not yield any result.

If they cannot pull up the shops or dealers dealing in single use plastics, they must not penalise others" .

Some other people commented, "How long will your drive last?" Some customers say that they can hardly see any single use plastic product when the drive was going on but the banned products reappear abundantly once the authorities leave the place.

Altogether 65.50 Kgs of single use plastics were seized during the drive yesterday and stem warning was issued to all those shopkeepers dealing in these products.

On the other hand, used plastic bottles have completely covered Naga Nulla just East of the Senior Citizen Recreation Point which was opened recently.

One vendor who ply her business on the bank of Naga Nulla expressed keen desire for the authorities concerned to remove the plastic wastes from the rivulet.

One customer underscored the need for all citizens to support the Government's initiative to keep Imphal city neat and clean.

"If we remain indifferent or uncooperative, our society will never develop", she said.

Saying that a clean city will help a lot in creating a healthy society, she appealed to all the people to consider and treat Khwairamband as their own home and courtyard.

On the other hand, IMC task force member Ngairangbam Bebina remarked that people cannot stop using plastic products even after knowing the ill effects of plastic products on health and environment.

It is rather unfortunate that many people instead of supporting the ongoing drive against single use plastics expressed contempt and disrespect to the officials carrying out the drive, she said.

Saying that they do not have any personal interest to carry on the drive, she urged all the people to stop selling and using single use plastic products banned by the Government.

Even though a handful of people have expressed support to the ongoing drive, majority of the people still remain indifferent and uncooperative, she decried.

She added that the drive will be certainly successful if the people support it.

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