Chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Climate Change, Nagaland Legislative Assembly, MLA Achumbemo Kikon (Background centre) and committee member, MLA & Advisor Zhaleo Rio (Left) during the inspection of environmentally vulnerable sites in Dimapur and Chümoukedima on May 23. (Morung Photo)
• NLA environment committee passes buck to the citizens
• Moves ban on mining and draining septic waste in rivers
Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 23
If the Committee on Environment and Climate Change of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly is to be believed, river bed mining and uninhibited draining of septic wastes into rivers would become taboo. Chairperson of the Committee, MLA Achumbemo Kikon made the announcement at a press conference after what was termed to be inspection of some environmentally vulnerable sites in Dimapur and Chümoukedima on May 23.
Only three members of the 7-member committee made the inspection outing however. It included the committee chairperson Achumbemo Kikon, MLA and Advisor for Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Zhaleo Rio, and Advisor of New & Renewable Energy and NSDMA, Z Nyusietho Nyuthe, besides officials of the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority, Swachh Bharat Mission members, village councils and councillors of the Dimapur Municipal Council, East Dimapur Town Council (EDTC) and Chümoukedima Town Council (CTC). The inspection was followed up by a meeting with the councillors, an administration officials.
Kikon said that the administration of Dimapur and Chümoukedima districts were directed to take the necessary executive action prohibiting the issuing of permits for river bed mining, including sand and boulders, in the Dhansiri and Chathe Rivers. He added that no new permits will be issued for river bed mining in the Dhansiri and Chathe in stretches falling in the town/city limits of Chümoukedima and Dimapur.
To account for the loss of livelihood to people engaged in the business, he said that the district administration will identify alternative locations outside town limits.
The councillors of the DMC, EDTC and CTC also jointly agreed to immediately ban dumping of household septic waste and garbage into the rivers. He said, “The three town councils adopted a resolution that no citizens, no residence will be allowed to release their septic waste and garbage into the rivers. This is one very strong resolution that will be followed with action by the town councils.”
According to him, the day’s inspection revealed the pathetic state of the Dhansiri and the DMC waste dumping site. The team visited the CTC waste disposal ground, inspected an embankment project on the Chathe River near the CIHSR, one spot on the Dhansiri, near the Urban Development Department’s Urban Haat, vulnerable to erosion, and the DMC dumping ground.
He claimed that the committee is on “mission mode,” and initially prioritising the rejuvenation of the rivers, in his words, “To bring back our rivers to life again.”
In the committee’s radar include human-animal conflict, noise and air pollution vis-à-vis stone crushers and sawmills operating in residential areas, and the burning of solid waste.
Urban waste management in the state has been under heavy criticism for years. On this, he said that recycling plants are “in the offing,” with hopes for funding from the 16th Finance Commission. He spoke of scientific waste management plants.
With regard to the relocation of the controversy-marred DMC dumping site, he said that land has been acquired. He however maintained that it will require developing the new site for building a scientific and functional waste management plant.
The government has, for years, harped on scientific and environment-friendly waste management but it has remained lip service, at best. Queried when the plans and proposals will turn into groundwork, Kikon replied, “When there is a will, there is a way.” He though passed the buck to the public, stating, “This needs more of civic sense than government enforcement.”
According to him, it could start with waste segregation at the household and uncomplainingly paying sanitation fees.
In 2022, Nagaland had come under the National Green Tribunal scanner, attracting an alleged penalty of Rs 200 cr for failing to properly manage waste. Kikon clarified that it was not a fine per se, but a requirement for the state to raise Rs 200 cr worth of revenue and invest in environment rejuvenation activities.
The 7-member Committee on Environment and Climate Change also includes MLAs and Advisors, Mhathung Yanthan, W Chingang Konyak, Hekani Jakhalu and Dr Tseilhoutuo Rhutso. This is the first instance in the 60-year history of the state that the Assembly has constituted a legislators’ committee on the environment.
