IMPHAL, May 14 - A policy on solid waste management is at the drafting stage and waiting for approval in Manipur, an official source said today.
At the same time, the segregation of municipal solid waste at the household level through urban local bodies (ULBs) is likely to begin in the State from July this year. There are around 27 ULBs in Manipur.
Meanwhile, efforts are on to encourage self-help groups (SHGs) to take up roles from the generation point of waste to its disposal in most municipal wards of the State to streamline solid waste management. There are around 300 municipal wards in Manipur.
The Director of Municipal Administration, Housing and Urban Development (MAHUD), Th Harikumar, told this reporter that the aim is to encourage at least one SHG in every ward. This will help in enhancing the solid waste management initiative in the State.
Staff of the Imphal Municipal Corporation and 14 other recognised NGOs have been collecting solid waste from the Imphal areas on a daily basis and transporting the unsegregated waste in trucks to a newly developed solid waste management plant at Lamdeng on the outskirts of Imphal for further processing.
It may be mentioned here that the Imphal town area generates more than 100 metric tonnes of solid waste on a daily basis.
If the segregation of waste at the house level begins in the State capital, trucks which will transport the waste will have to be redesigned with separate chambers. Similarly, every household will need to maintain separate bins.
The MAHUD, in collaboration with the Manipur Urban Development Agency, organised a one-day workshop on Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules 2016 and Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 for ULBs to deliberate on the directives of the National Green Tribunal regarding solid waste management rules and a river pollution case, on Monday.
Assam Rifles claim rejected: Manipur-based armed groups United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) have denied reports of arrest of seven insurgents by the Assam Rifles along with a huge cache of arms and ammunition in Manipur on May 9. Both the outfits issued press releases in this regard and rejected the claim made by the Assam Rifles.
On Saturday last, the Assam Rifles had claimed that five cadres of PREPAK, and one cadre each of UNLF and KYKL were arrested and a huge cache of arms and ammunition recovered in Kamjong district.
