Waste management in Manipur
Imphal Municipal Corporation assistant commissioner Dr Samuel Moirangthem speaking at the discourse. Image credit – Northeast Now

A day-long discourse on ‘Inclusive policies on waste management of Manipur’ on Friday recommended segregation of solid waste at sources to improve waste management.

The internal discourse, held in Manipur University premises, had two technical sessions.

During the discourse, it was recommended that for inclusive waste management segregation of waste at source be made mandatory by incentivizing the stakeholders concerned.

It also was also recommended to encourage waste management knowledge in the curriculum of the educational institutions on a trial basis.

Besides, it was recommended to educate the users (households) to understand the whole process of waste management to encourage segregation at source.

The international discourse organized by the Centre for Study of Social Exclusion & Inclusive Policy (CSSEIP), Manipur University and Manipur Urban Development Agency (MUDA), the government of Manipur, also recommended formulating an inclusive waste policy of the state.

Other recommendations made during the discourse include setting up of a target with certain yardsticks in waste management programmes, encouraging evidence-based policy on an experimental basis and developing a model collection centre/point in the localities or leikais on a trial basis.

It was also recommended to initiate a comprehensive and integrated approach by incorporating the stakeholders concerned in the waste management governance and encouraging of a regular community collection day observation every year.

It also recommended the establishment of a dropping point/centre in every municipal ward/locality to encourage re-use and recycling of the unused items, enhancement of the ability of the urban local body representatives to provide effective waste management, improving the understanding with NGOs or service providers for stable and reliable services.

The discourse also recommended to encourage the tourism through effective waste management efforts, to upgrade the existing systems to enforce penalties and awareness programme on the conversion of (solid) waste into wealth in the local level or institutions.

The director of MUDA, Th Harikumar, deputy director Dr T Brajakumar of the directorate of environment, Dr Lucy O Shea of Bath University, Dr Rajkumari Sunita of state planning department and Waikhom Roshan of Manipur state pollution control board, assistant municipal commissioner Dr Samuel Moirangthem of IMC and Taorem Leikhendra of the Centre for Research on Environmental Development made presentation on the topic in the day’s technical sessions which were moderated by the director, Prof Amar Yumnam of CSSEIP and Prof Shasi Nandeibam of Bath University, United Kingdom.

Sobhapati Samom is Northeast Now Correspondent in Imphal. He can be reached at: [email protected]