Doyang, the largest river in Nagaland, is grappling with severe pollution due to the accumulation of trash. Referring to the video of waste accumulation of Doyang river doing the rounds in social media, Old Aree Village chairman Liponthung Lotha serious concern over the issue.
Addressing the media, he said that each year from June to July, the river becomes a dumping ground for plastic, bottles, and mud from surrounding areas.
He said this accumulation turned sections of the river into dangerous quicksand zones, endangering wildlife and human lives as well.
He shared a recent incident wherein two deer were tragically trapped and perished in the quicksand while attempting to drink water from the river.
The village residents, primarily fishermen, are facing challenges as fishing is not possible at the moment due to river water pollution, decreasing fish population and affecting the ecosystem.
Liponthung emphasised that the scale of the problem exceeded the village’s capacity to manage alone, calling for immediate government intervention.
Chairman of Biodiversity Management Committee, Pangti, P Thungchumo Shidio maintained that the monsoon season created problems with waste being flown from other districts and areas, causing a threat to human and marine lives.
He said the pollution had already submerged around 10 boats and destroyed numerous fishing nets, further crippling the fishermen and their livelihood. He warned that without urgent action, the consequences for human and marine life over the next 10 to 15 years could be crucial.
He appealed the public to spread awareness and practise proper waste disposal to protect human lives, while calling on the government to come up with plans to recycle the waste at the Doyang dam to mitigate this growing environmental disaster.