Mega cleanliness drive receives impressive response in Nagaland’s Dimapur district

DIMAPUR — People from all walks of life – officers, students, security personnel and general public – were spotted cleaning the streets, public spaces, commercial centres and residential areas in Dimapur on Saturday morning, responding to the call to take part in cleanliness drive ahead of the Gandhi Jayanti.

The government of Nagaland had decided to conduct the cleanliness drive in the state a day ahead of the rest of the country amid uproar from several organisations, as October 1 falls on a Sunday, which is a day of worship for Christians.

The cleanliness campaign — Swachhata Hi Seva – received good response in Dimapur, as citizens including students from six schools and colleges, military personnel and others participated, covering as many as 23 wards.

During the culmination programme held at Clock Tower, Zhaleo Rio, Advisor of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, thanked the people for their active participation and requested them to make cleanliness a daily affair.

Lamenting garbage being rampantly strewn on the streets, he urged the people to continue cleanliness drive in their own wards and colonies as well as dispose of the waste only at the designated places.

He said that he is planning to provide smaller trucks to the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) as the workers are finding difficult to collect garbage throughout the day in big trucks.

Also speaking at the event, DMC administrator, Manpai Phom, thanked everyone who participated in the cleanliness campaign and also highlighted various schemes it has initiated for the sanitation workers.

He also urged the people to keep the drains clean to avoid floods and other waste-related issues in the Dimapur.

On multi-layered plastic

Retired commissioner and secretary, LH Thangi Mannen, who is also the founder of Earth Alliance Nagaland, said that they will soon start awareness programme on management of multi-layered plastic (MLP) in Kohima, Mokokchung and Dimapur.

Maintaining that there is a mechanism to do away with MLP, she said they will conduct workshops and sanitation programmes at various schools, by bringing in experts from Mumbai.

The awareness campaign will start next month and about 20-25 schools in Kohima, Mokokchung and Dimapur have been identified for the same, she revealed.

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