Khwairamband plays host to piling garbage
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 19 2009: As removal of garbages from Khwairamband Market here has been stopped for the last few days, piling of the garbages in different parts of the market has caused lot of inconveniences to both the buyers and sellers in the largest commercial hub of the State capital.

Unable to bear the putrid stench emanating from these garbage heaps, many of the women vendors, who unfortunately happen to have their stalls near these ever mounting garbages have even thought of collecting Rs 10 each from among themselves for hiring some porters to remove these garbages and dump them on the roads in protest against the failure of the authorities concerned.

With the authority failing to remove the garbage, Khwairamband has become a dumping site

Not just Khwairamband Market, removal of garbages from all the 27 wards under the Imphal Municipality area which used to be carried out by four NGOs recognised by the Imphal Municipal Council has been stopped since May 14 following opposition over the earlier dumping site.

Interacting with The Sangai Express, women vendors of Khwairamband Market informed that starting the waste material from the hotels located within the three market sheds to other unwanted remnants were normally dumped near the market sheds by the womenfolk in their rush to sell the goods and the same were removed by the Imphal Municipal Council every day.

But over the past four-five days, no one has come to pick up the garbages.

Now the putrid smell emanating from these garbage heaps is so much so that the women vendors are not able to concentrate on selling their goods.

Betel nut and leaves seller Shama pointed out that the current unpredictable weather condition characterised by occasional drizzle and then sun shine has further compounded to the problems of garbages littering in the market place.

Littering of garbage has also caused problem to the movement of the people who come to make their purchases at three market sheds of Khwairamband where crowding has been its general hallmark for years.

During a tour of the market area, it was seen that garbages are also piling in the area behind the office of Family Welfare Department which is normally used for parking vehicles of the people coming to the market.

This has not only led to difficulty of the people in parking their vehicles but also in congesting the already congested area.

Situation is no different in Thangal and Paona Bazar areas of the market with heaps of garbages at every nook and corner.

In connection with the present problem of garbages in Khwairamband Market, Chairperson of Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) informed that development works have been started from today at the dumping site so that the people of the surrounding areas do not complaint about the stench and presence of flies.

Stating that the IMC could not take care of the dumping site in a scientific manner due to lack of adequate fund and other resources like machineries, the Chairperson disclosed that development works of dumping ground have been started from today along with pressing into service of the machineries hired from PWD and IFCD over and above the existing machineries of the IMC including one dozer which was procured recently.

From now on garbages would be dumped by making a pit and the same would be covered by three layers of earth so that there is no stench and flies, the chairperson assured, adding that proper fencing would also be erected around the dumping ground.

It may be noted here that Kangchup Road Young Physical and Sports Association (KRYPSA) had objected to use of its ground at Iroisemba for dumping garbages by the IMC as the latter fails to take up necessary measures as agreed at the time of signing an agreement in this regard.