Dimapur beautification efforts continue to face challenges

DIMAPUR — The Team Better Dimapur, Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) and other groups have been putting in efforts to beautify Dimapur by installing vertical garden and carrying out cleanliness drives, only to discover it vandalised and littered days later.

On Saturday, the Team Better Dimapur found the vertical garden near the Urban Haat at Old Dhansiri bridge and the one under the footbridge at Holy Cross junction littered with trash, during their monthly social work.

President of Team Better Dimapur, Mhonjan Humtsoe, told Eastern Mirror that they were upset to find waste of all kinds- plastic items, alcohol bottles, clothes and footwear at the vertical garden near the Urban Haat.

“We as a team want the public to realise that this place belongs to us and not of any individuals, so please keep the area clean. Come sit relax with friends and families but please don’t throw trash. Just because we do the cleaning does not mean the area belongs to the team or the Municipal (DMC) alone. We are doing it for the people and the city so that this can add aesthetic (value) to the city,” he said.

Saying that no dustbin has been installed in the area on purpose, as people don’t utilise it wisely even if provided, he requested everyone to carry their own trash and keep the area clean.

The team said the vertical garden at Holy Cross footbridge was no different, as alcohol bottles and plastic wastes were found at the spot. Adding to their disappointment, the water sprinkler at the vertical garden was found damaged, perhaps with the intention of theft. 

“What is the point of vandalising the sprinklers as it is of no use even if you take it home. It is not easy to maintain the vertical garden if the sprinklers are not working as we have to water the plants manually. Moreover, we don’t get fund for maintenance,” Humtsoe said while urging the district administration and the Commissioner of Police to come up with some measures to protect public property.

He also lamented miscreants dumping garbage in flower pots, which were installed to beautify Dimapur, besides vandalising the only water sprinkler system being installed at vertical garden in the city.

“We want to keep the city clean and green, however it is not possible for us to do it alone without the support of the public. Therefore, I appeal to the citizens of Dimapur not to litter and throw thrash at the beautified areas,” he appealed.

Dimapur received the aesthetic lift in the form of the vertical garden near the Urban Haat on May 29, 2023. It was constructed by the DMC in collaboration with Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) and Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB) under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), and the work was executed by Team Better Dimapur.

Inaugurated by Advisor to Labour, Employment and Skill Development, Excise, Moatoshi Longkumer on May 29, the project was aimed at introducing a green zone and pollution-free area through planting trees and flowers, as well as to provide a serene and peaceful recreation spot for the public.