Itanagar- Door To Door Collection of Solid Waste Initiated
Itanagar.
“We need community participation to make the state capital a model city of cleanliness” asserted Chief Minister Pema Khandu. He was addressing a mammoth gathering during the flagging-off function for door to door collection of municipal solid waste management of the capital region here at Banquet Hall today.
On the occasion, Chief Minister along with the Deputy Chief Minister and others flag-off 12 new vehicles including 3 JCBs, 6 Tippers and 3 Kargo King for door to door collection of municipal solid waste. He also launched the Itanagar Municipal Council website which can be reached at www.imcarunachal.in.
The CM exhorted that cooperation and active participation of people is must to achieve the objective of zero garbage of the twin capital city. Adding that it is not only the responsibility of the govt and municipal councils to keep the city clean, onus of clean and green surroundings should be shouldered equally by each and every citizens of the state and the country.
“Cleanliness while having positive impact on health and hygiene, it will also boost the tourist inflow and make the state investment friendly” he shared. He further added that the state capital reflects the image of the entire state and therefore urged the people of the capital twin city to develop a sense of responsibility and self awareness towards the sanitation.
He called for organizing massive cleanliness drive in every village and town of the state on the occasion of the Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 next. He called for active participation of elected representatives, panchayat leaders, NGOs, public and students on the occasion. He also said to make social service a part of weekly routine in every schools and colleges of the state.
Addressing the media persons after the flagged off, Chief Minister said to appoint agencies for mapping the capital city in order to develop it into a model capital city. As Itanagar Capital City is already in the race of the smart city, all other issues would be dealt with the smart city plan, he added.
He further revealed that his govt would give full support to the new Municipal Councils of Itanagar and Pasighat which are in nascent stage by empowering them financially.
Deputy Chief Minister, Chowna Mein speaking as guest of honour on the occasion called to evolve a Policy Framework that would propose incentives and infrastructure to help each and everyone to become an environmentally responsible resident
He said that a Comprehensive strategy for Municipal Solid Waste Management should be planned for next few decades by both IMC and PMC to mark the start of a new process to attain sustainable waste management. He expressed hope that the IMC would give guidance and advise the govt in this regard.
Mein also called to adopt good environmental habits saying that Solid Waste Management is directly related to environmental protection as burning, pit filling and open land-fields of solid waste are no longer an option due to various health hazards associated with it. He opined for reducing waste by giving proper and concerted thought over our consumption driven lifestyle.
He also appealed the Business Community to shoulder responsibility to minimise waste and littering and appealed them to emphasize on proper disposal, less waste generation and also to facilitate recycling.
Itanagar MLA, Techi Kaso called upon the residents of the capital city to wake up and not to just blame the govt and the IMC for the garbage mess but instead to shoulder the responsibilities together.
Chief Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin said with improved sanitation and hygiene (clean environment), health cost would automatically come down and called to take it up responsively by all. She appealed to the citizens to inculcate a habit of throwing the garbage at designated place only and also called to preserve the green area in the twin capital city.
IMC Chief Councillor, Kipa Kaku called for developing self-awareness and to start the cleanliness from own house to keep the capital city clean and make it a Model Capital saying that charity begins at home.
The Door to Door collection would cover 1,50,000 population of 20,730 households that comes under 30 wards in urban areas and 2 ZPM Blocks and 5 notified villages in rural areas.