A huge pile of garbage in the middle of the city and along the National Highway in East Dimapur. (Photo Courtesy: Tribal Council, Purana Bazar, East Dimapur)
Dimapur, May 28 (MExN): The Office of the Tribal Council, Purana Bazar, East Dimapur, has issued an urgent representation to the Advisor for Urban Development & Municipal Affairs, Government of Nagaland, highlighting of a looming public health emergency caused by the complete absence of a scientific garbage disposal system in the area.
In a letter, Council Chairman Tohoshe Awomi stated that open dumping of solid waste in the middle of the city and along the National Highway has created an “extremely unhealthy and unbearable environment” for residents, commuters, shopkeepers, and students. The crisis, he noted, has persisted despite the formation of the East Dimapur Council following the Urban Local Body (ULB) elections, which had initially raised public hopes for better administration and living conditions.
According to the Council, “the foul smell from the waste has made it difficult for commuters, nearby residents, shopkeepers, students, and pedestrians to even pass through the area comfortably.” Beyond visual pollution, the garbage piles are rapidly becoming a serious public health hazard, with potential risks of vector-borne diseases and respiratory ailments. The Chairman emphasised that this issue is not merely about cleanliness; it concerns the health, dignity and well-being of thousands of citizens.
“A city cannot progress while garbage is openly piled in public spaces where people travel and live every day,” Awomi stated in the letter, urging the government to treat the matter as a priority rather than delaying action further. He called for the immediate identification and purchase of a permanent and scientifically managed garbage dumping and waste processing site, along with the implementation of proper waste management policies, regular garbage collection systems, sanitation monitoring, and environmental safety measures without delay.
The Council further argued that “development should reflect in every aspect of public welfare and not remain limited to visible infrastructure alone.”
The letter appealed for responsible and immediate intervention before the situation deteriorates further, expressing hope that the matter will receive the urgent attention it deserves from the state government.
