Marking a new dawn in urban waste management in Nagaland, “Segregated Door-to-Door Collection of Household Waste” initiative was launched at Duncan Basti and River Belt Colony junction here on Friday. Launched under the aegis of Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), the initiative was flagged off by Labour, Employment & Skill Development and Excise adviser Moatoshi Longkumer.
The programme is designed to conduct door-to-door collection of segregated waste throughout the day, supplementing the regular waste collection system that currently operates only in the morning hours due to traffic regulations.
During the flag off event, Longkumer emphasised enhanced civic responsibility among the citizens. He highlighted the importance of recognising that the consequences of their actions, including waste generation, must be borne by each individual.
He however told the citizens not to expect waste collection services without contributing to the cost, stressing fostering a natural inclination toward civic sense within the society.
He called for a collective effort to cultivate responsible living habits, promote hospitality, and foster a positive attitude towards both domestic and international tourists. He envisioned a future where Dimapur city would stand out as the most habitable and sought-after place to live.
He emphasised collective responsibility of all citizens in maintaining a clean city, urging everyone to work together towards this common goal. Acknowledging the recent positive developments in Dimapur, Longkumer credited the collaborative efforts of various departments such as DMC, Urban Development Department, district administration, PHED, PWD, etc.
He disclosed that one out of the four vehicles used for the initiative was sourced from the 2022-2023 MLA pool collection and appreciated Dimapur legislators for their contribution. Thanking DMC for its unwavering dedication to keeping the city clean, the adviser emphasised that maintaining a clean city was a shared responsibility. He appealed all citizens to actively participate, cooperate, and collaborate to transform Dimapur into a model clean city.
Delivering the keynote address, DMC administrator W Manpai Phom stated that the initiative was strategically planned as a pilot programme targeting specific wards under the municipality. After careful consideration, he said Ward No 11, comprising Duncan Basti and River Belt Colony, was chosen as the initial focus area for the pilot project.
He narrated the time and efforts invested in transforming this plan into reality, assuring citizens of a seamless waste collection process right from the launch day.
Sharing details of the meticulous planning, he mentioned that experts were consulted to ensure every detail was carefully considered. He stated that four vehicles were procured for the initiative, with three sourced from the 15th Finance Commission and one from the 2022-2023 Dimapur MLA Common Pool.
Manpai acknowledged District Planning & Development Board (DBDP), Dimapur and its chairman Moatoshi Longkumer for allocating funds to acquire one of the vehicles.
Appreciating Longkumer’s continuous support and involvement since the initial stages, he acknowledged his significant contributions in pushing and supporting DMC to reach this stage of implementation.
On maintaining Dimapur’s cleanliness, he pointed out that the responsibility did not solely rest on DMC, but required active participation from all citizens.
Expressing hope for success of the initiative, Phom appealed colony councils and leaders for cooperation and stressed equal participation of all residents.
Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview with Nagaland Post after the flag-off, Phom outlined plans to expand the collection area, indicating the necessity for a fleet of approximately 100 vehicles to cover the entire municipality.
He maintained that the process involved more than just vehicle procurement, requiring thorough meetings and assessments for smooth functioning.
Regarding the current waste collection system, he admitted that the size of the existing fleet posed challenges in navigating through wards and colonies due to traffic regulations and road congestions.
Responding to questions about waste segregation through the new initiative, he disclosed that waste would be categorised into dry waste, wet waste, and domestic sanitary waste. He urged citizens to cooperate by segregating their waste accordingly to enhance the effectiveness of the programme.
Earlier, invocation was offered by Dimapur Ao Baptist Arogo (DABA) mission director Jongshimanen Jamir, while short speeches delivered by Dimapur deputy commissioner Dr Tinojongshi Chang and Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) president Zasivikho Zakiesato. Council members from Duncan Basti and River Belt Colony also expressed thanks to DMC and Longkumer for the initiative.