A community sensitization, river cleaning and plastic clean-up campaign was taken up in eight localities in the city as hundreds volunteered to clean up the polluted rivers in their respective areas.
The campaign organised by the Meghalaya Pollution Control Board in collaboration with the Forest Department, dorbar shnongs and an even management team Catapult was held in Demthring, Nongrim Hills, Umpling, Rilbong, Demseiniong, Pynthor Nongmynsong and Urkaliar.
Speaking to Highland Post Chief Conservator of Forest (SF & E) WS Manner said the ministry of environment and forest government of India have set a target of 1000 activities and events to be organized across the state to protect and keep the environment clean and green.
“The forest department so far has organized 1354 activities and events across the state and the process of cleaning our surroundings and rivers will continue, including tree plantation drives organized in different districts,” he said.
Stating that there is a serious threat of plastic pollution to rivers and streams across the city, he stressed the importance of segregating the biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes before giving it to the municipal vehicles for proper disposal.
“There will be serious consequences to the present and future generation if we do not look and address the menace of plastic pollution across the state,” he added.
MSPCB Assistant Environmental Engineer M Syiem Tiewsoh said the cleaning drive of rivers and localities aim to sensitise the community on the importance of saving the rivers and streams that exist.
“The pollution of rivers and streams cannot be controlled if we don’t start this process right from our homes and communities and to have a sense of responsibility for proper waste disposal,” he said.
Rangbah Shnong of the Dorbar Shnong of Kenches Trace, Oxford Hill and Rilbong (KOR) Glanding Lyngdoh stressed that the cleaning campaign of rivers and localities should happen more often or once in a quarter and not only before the important programs or events.
“We have to intensify the sensitization of people especially those residing near the rivers or streamlets including shops not to throw the garbage and plastic into the rivers or streamlets but to segregate them properly before handing over to the Municipal vehicles who come every alternate days and give their free of cost services,” he said.
He also said that the biggest disadvantage of plastic is that it is non-biodegradable and does not decompose for ages and therefore they are not environmentally friendly threatening wildlife and spreading toxins.
“We must use alternatives like cloth bags and paper bags instead of plastic bags. If we are purchasing plastic, we must reuse it. We must avoid drinking bottled water which contributes largely to plastic pollution. The government must put a plastic ban on the use of plastic,” he added.
Arti Lyngdoh from the Event management agency Catapult said that they are trying to spread awareness through the various campaigns and reaching out to vendors, houses, school students and all the citizen of the state to abandon the use of single use plastic that are really harming the environment and state as a whole and increasing pollution.
