Dmr: Garbage dumping zones deteriorating into large cavities

Intolerable stench, damage to roads, two feet long cavities, garbage dumping sites in Dimapur have turned into serious health hazards  

Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 3  

The lifting of garbage and waste products by the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) sanitation branch with the help of JCB excavator appears to be doing more damage than good to the designated garbage dumping areas in Dimapur.

Every morning, a JCB excavator and a truck belonging to the DMC collects the trash accumulated at the dumping areas around Dimapur. The JCB excavator is used to sweep up the garbage with its ground engaging tool into the truck.   However, in the process, large cavities have been formed at the designated dumping zones, turning the spots literally into foul smelling swamps filled with stagnant water and accumulated trash. Commuters passing the area have to wrinkle their nose is disgust due to the intolerable stench emanating from the area. During monsoon the condition becomes worse.  

Since most of the designated garbage dumping areas are by the road side, the cavity formed by the JCB excavator while collecting the trash, has also damaged the roads.  

Some of such large craters the size of fishery ponds can be seen opposite to Little Star Higher Secondary School (LSHSS), outside Vivekananda Blooming Buds School near DC Court junction and at Walford area.  

Residents of these areas are facing health threats and increasing the possibility of an outbreak of vector-borne diseases. “Most of the time it is almost impossible to breathe due to the stink emanating from the accumulated dirty water and garbage heaps,” Imti Longkumer, former chairman of Duncan Basti Council stated.  

His house is located adjacent to the dumping site outside the Blooming Bud School. The former Duncan Basti Council Chairman said garbage from different colonies are dumped at the site, despite the appeal not to.  

Private vehicles, trucks from different colonies like Ao Yimkum, Hill View, PWD, Landmark, Industrial Estate etc dump their garbage in this spot- which is despite the effort to close down the dumping area, Longkumer pointed out.  

He also revealed that the dumping place which was constructed in concrete has been destroyed by the JCB while hauling up the garbage. A proposal made earlier to the DMC to use trash dumpsters could not be materialized, Longkumer stated.  

At Blooming Bud School, the stink emanating from the garbage dump, which is just separated by a boundary wall, is so severe that the school administration had to shift one class room which was closest to the dumping ground. The stench is still pervasive in the rest of the class rooms.  

“We have submitted representations to the DMC on numerous occasions, the latest being a week back for shifting of the dumping ground, but so far there has been no response from the concerned,” Head Master Sajal Kanti Nath told this reporter.  

“I am worried that the stench and the stagnant water at the dumping ground would risk the health of the children studying in the school,” the Head Master said.  

Similarly, administration of LSHSS had also written to the DMC and the GB of PWD under which jurisdiction the institution is, for shifting of the garbage dump, which lie adjacent to the school. The institution is yet to receive any response.  

At a time when cleanliness is a major concern, the DMC needs have a serious look at better alternatives other than collecting garbage with JCB excavators. Introduction of garbage disposal bin or trash dumpsters with truck mounted garbage compactors can be an option, provided the citizens also exhibit some civic sense.