National seminar on solid waste management kicks off
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, August 22 2025: The Institution of Engineers (India), Manipur State Centre, in associa- , tion with the Department of Environment and Climate Change and the Department of MAHUD, Government of Manipur have jointly kicked off a two-day all-India seminar on "Solid Waste Management: Innovative Solutions for a Sustainable Future" today.

The seminar, held under the aegis of the Environmental Engineering Division Board (ENDB), IEI, is being held at the Main Hall of the Directorate of Environment -and Climate Change, Porompat, Imphal East.

Manipur University Vice-Chancellor Professor N Lokendra Singh inaugurated the seminar.

Addressing the gathering, Prof N Lokendra Singh recalled that Imphal was once considered an ideal city with a clean environment in the early 1970s.However, absence of proper and systematic planning in many developmental works and infrastructure, coupled with the growing encroachment on public land in recent years, have turned Imphal city into an overcrowded and unhygienic place, Lokendra said.

He described the physical condition of the Imphal city as a menace that requires urgent attention.

The authorities concerned and the public should recognise the importance of adopting meaningful measures to safeguard the environment, he added.

Lokendra opined that the inclusion of solid waste management in the academic syllabus as a means to educate and raise awareness may be key to building a sustainable future.

Dr Tourangbam Brajakumar, Director of the Department of Environment and Climate Change, highlighted that there are 27 urban local bodies in Imphal.

He noted that these areas generate a huge volume of household solid waste every day, of which only a small portion is collected by the municipality, while a large amount remains scattered, leading to severe environmental pollution.

He urged the people to minimise the generation of solid waste and dispose of them responsibly.

The public must understand the harmful effects of pollution, and "we all" should actively maintain cleanliness, he added.

Director, MAHUD and IPR Ngangom Uttam Singh, IEI Manipur State Centre Chairman L Swamikanta Singh and many other eminent personalities and resource persons attended the seminar.

As part of the inaugural programme, a souvenir was released, followed by a technical session and paper presentation.

The technical sessions during the seminar included discussions on the topics� Policy & Legal Framework, Municipal Solid Waste Management: Key Issues, Emerging Challenges and Solutions, Solid Waste Management in Manipur: Challenges, Initiatives and Way Forward etc.

Several research papers on solid waste and relevant fields were presented by scholars during the event.

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