Plastic deposits at Doyang dam reservoir in Wokha district.
Departments directed to find measures to ensure such deposits do not take place
KOHIMA, JUNE 7 (MExN): Taking note of the serious environmental hazard caused by poor and improper disposal of wastes in the upstream of Doyang dam reservoir in Wokha district, Nagaland Chief Secretary, J Alam chaired an emergency meeting at the Civil Secretariat, Kohima on June 7.
According to a DIPR report, the Chief Secretary emphasized the urgency to examine and undertake specific prevention and mitigation measures to clear the debris and solid waste collected in the upstream of the Doyang river bed.
He also said that whatever is the sustainable way should be adopted and this mission should be carried out with close coordination with the district administration and the concerned departments. He deliberated on the immediate measures required to clean up the collected waste and ask the departments to find medium or long term measures to ensure that this kind of deposits do not take place.
The Chief Secretary also directed DC, Wokha to convene a meeting with the stakeholders and also to immediate field assessment in the upstream of the dam to ascertain its quality where debris are accumulated and submit incident action plan. He also urged to initiate a mission mode of cleaning the debris at Doyang dam within a week and maintain proper documentation records of the entire process. He further instructed that the exercise must involve various departments, fishermen, local villagers, NGOs etc.
He also expressed happiness that all the concerned agencies and the members of the NSDMA executive body were present at the meeting and reiterated the need to seriously deliberate on how best we can take care of the problem in days to come.
Deputy Commissioner, Wokha Ajit Kumar Ranjan, attending the meeting through video conference said the floating solid wastes comprising mostly of plastics have accumulated and piled up at the banks of Doyang dam. He said the most affected are banks below the Pangti village, are old, new Changsu and old Changsu.
He also stated that though the operation of Doyang dam is unaffected by deposition of wastes, it has harmed the aquatic life/ecology and degraded the aesthetics of the tourist sites at the Doyang dam lake. The DC also said immediate action will be taken to clean up the debris through the help of locals and lined departments and community social works will be conducted at the earliest.
NEEPCO and State Nodal Officer, Er John Zeliang, CGM who also virtually attending the meeting said the debris was washed down to the Doyang dam due to heaving rain in the month of May 2024.
However, Zeliang said that power house in Doyang dam is equipped with trash rack which prevents certain size of floating debris to enter the main reservoir. He further suggested for collecting the debris before it gets dispersed and to dispose it properly. It was also decided that NEEPCO will reimburse the expenditure incurred to the NSDMA.
Also deliberating of other issues with the departments, the Chief Secretary stressed on strictly banning single use plastics especially below one litre water bottles and to reinforce the use of paper bags.
Departments of Water resources, Tourism, Police, Urban & Municipal Affairs and Fisheries also highlighted their resources and manpower status and suggestions during the meeting, the DIPR report stated.
Area team constituted to
remove plastic waste at Doyang
Deputy Commissioner, Wokha, Ajit Ranjan has constituted an Area Team for taking up the task of cleaning and removal of plastic waste at Doyang lake, Wokha on mission mode within 2-3 days.
The team consists of Pukha, EAC Sungro; Jonji, District Disaster Management Officer; SDRF District Commandant; District Tourism Officer; Executive Engineer, Water Resources Department; District Fishery Officer; Divisional Forest Officer representative; Representative from North Eastern Electric Power Cooperation Limited (NEEPCO).
A DIRP report informed that the Area Team has been assigned to assess the spots of solid waste pollution by physically visiting them and the amount of waste. It has been asked to assess the resources required for cleaning on immediate basis and the machinery required. Further, the team has been asked to identify the place where the cleaned-up waste can be collected and the disposal mechanism, and submit the action plan.
Based on the action plan, the execution shall begin on June 8 and will be completed in 2-3 days time. EAC Sungro, Pukha Lam has been assigned as the overall coordinator and area commander for the task which is to be taken up in mission mode.
