IMPHAL, Dec 28 - A daylong international discourse on �inclusive policies on waste management of Manipur� was held at the Manipur University campus on the outskirts of the State capital on Friday. It recommended formulation of an inclusive waste policy for Manipur.
The discourse, jointly organised by the Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, Manipur University, and the Manipur Urban Development Agency (MUDA), also called for an evidence-based policy on an experimental basis, besides integrating unorganised waste collectors or ragpickers by upgrading their skills, etc.
It recommended making segregation at source mandatory (for inclusive waste management) by incentivising the stakeholders concerned, inclusion of waste management knowledge in the curriculum of educational institutions on a trial basis, education of users (households) on waste management, etc.
In his keynote address, MUDA Director Th Harikumar said that the State authority is preparing a draft policy for waste management for the Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) area and 26 small towns.
The IMC is looking after solid waste management of a more than 4 lakh population residing under 27 municipal wards including 20 wards in Imphal West district, seven in Imphal East district and three residential welfare associations, Assistant Municipal Commissioner Dr Samuel Moirangthem said.
�On an average, the IMC area generates 130 metric tonnes of solid waste daily,� said Dr Moirangthem during the post-lunch session, which was moderated by Prof Shasi Nandeibam of Bath University, UK. It generated 188 metric tonnes of solid waste on May 11, the highest in the current year.
Most service providers comprising 10 NGOs have been facing a lot of challenges during door-to-door collection of garbage and transportation to the State�s only existing solid waste treatment plant at Lamdeng, due to lack of awareness among the masses and policy-makers, T Leikhendra of the Centre for Research on Environmental Development said.
In the morning session, which was moderated by Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy Director Prof Amar Yumnam, Additional Chief Engineer of the Public Health Engineering Department (Rural Sanitation) L Swamikanta stressed the importance of conserving water resources and generating awareness in dealing with waste management. Deputy Director of the Manipur Directorate of Environment Dr T Brajakumar suggested separate mechanisms for different locations.
Dr Lucy O Shea of Bath University, Dr Rajkumari Sunita of the State Planning Department, and Waikhom Roshan of the Manipur State Pollution Control Board also made presentations during the day�s discourse which was attended by university students, teachers, local club representatives, journalists and NGO functionaries.
