NLA panel orders ban on waste dumping into rivers

In a significant move aimed at assessing the ground realities of environmental and waste management practices, the Committee on Environment & Climate Change of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) has directed all three municipal bodies in the state to pass resolutions banning discharge of septic waste and dumping of solid waste into local rivers.
This followed a consultative meeting of the committee with municipal bodies here on Friday, after a comprehensive spot verification of Chümoukedima and Dimapur.
Further, the committee asked the municipal bodies not to issue new permits for riverbed mining (sand, gravel, boulder extraction) within town limits to prevent further erosion and protect river health.
Citizens would be required to segregate waste into biodegradable (food scraps, vegetable peels) and non-biodegradable (plastics, bottles) categories, with municipal councils handling collection, and plans were underway to restart recycling efforts at designated sites.
Disclosing this to the media after the field visit and consultative meeting, committee’s chairperson and legislator Achumbemo Kikon urged citizens to cooperate by paying minimal sanitation fees and following municipal guidelines. He emphasised that public support was crucial for the success of these initiatives.
He said the decisions were taken after an in-depth discussion.
Earlier, the visit was conducted under the chairmanship of Achumbemo, and included members of the committee, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs adviser Zhaleo Rio, New & Renewable Energy and Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) adviser Z Nyusietho Nyuthe, NSDMA officials, and representatives of Swachh Bharat Mission, village councils and local municipal bodies.
Following the inspections, the committee held a consultative meeting with representatives from Chümoukedima Town Council (CTC), East Dimapur Town Council (EDTC) and Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC).
Achumbemo said that the committee constituted for the first time since the inception of NLA was now in a “mission mode” to tackle pressing ecological and urban issues across the state.
He said the committee began the day with an inspection of the Chümoukedima dumping site and the embankment work being undertaken along the Dhansiri river where erosion is posing a threat to infrastructure, including the referral hospital.
He highlighted the government’s significant investment in embankment construction and emphasised protective measures to safeguard riverbanks.
During a subsequent visit to Urban Haat area, Achumbemo said the committee observed alarming water pollution in the river, describing it as a “yellow river”. This was followed by a sobering assessment of the Dimapur municipal dumping site, which revealed disturbing levels of waste mismanagement and environmental degradation.
He also voiced concern over rising air and noise pollution, particularly from unregulated stone crushers and sawmills operating in residential areas, disclosing that the committee had resolved to address these issues as part of its broader environmental agenda.
Noting the increasing human-animal conflict due to deforestation and urban expansion, he called for a balanced coexistence between human and nature.
He also clarified that the National Green Tribunal had not fined the state government Rs 200 crore, but rather directed the state to raise the amount as part of a comprehensive waste management and cleanup initiative, for which the public had to cooperate.
Asked how serious the government was in shifting Dimapur dumping site, Achumbemo revealed that the government had already purchased land for an alternative site, but it required a scientific way of installing some machines as well as developing the area first. He said plans were underway to scientifically develop the alternative dumping site.
He stressed, “We cannot repeat the old way of dumping in the new area. Proper planning is required.”
According to him, the government and the department concerned would have to work out scientifically before starting dumping in the new plot of land.
Stressing that successful implementation of environmental policies hinged on public participation, he appealed the media to act as a partner in spreading awareness and educating citizens about the importance of sanitation, waste segregation, and environmental protection.
Achumbemo stated that the government was working to operationalise recycling plants and install incineration units with support from the 16th Finance Commission, adding that these efforts aimed to transform waste management from ad hoc measures into a structured, sustainable system.
He called for reviving the civic sense that once defined civilisations like the Indus Valley and replicating that excellence in 21st-century Nagaland. “Where there is a will, there is a way,” he asserted, stressing that the government, municipal councils, and citizens must work together to realise the vision of a clean, green, and sustainable Nagaland.