Imphal: “The absence of proper and systematic planning in many developmental works and infrastructures, coupled with the growing encroachment of public lands in recent years, has turned Imphal city into an overcrowded and unhygienic place,” warned Manipur University vice-chancellor Prof. N. Lokendra Singh.
Lokendra described the situation as a menace that requires urgent corrective measures from both the authorities and the public.
He was speaking at the inaugural of a two-day All-India Seminar on “Solid Waste Management: Innovative Solutions for a Sustainable Future,” organized jointly by the Institution of Engineers (India), Manipur State Centre, the Department of Environment and Climate Change, and the Department of MAHUD, Manipur.
The seminar was held under the aegis of the Environmental Engineering Division Board (ENDB), IEI, is being conducted at the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Porompat, Imphal East.
Recalling that Imphal was once regarded as an ideal city in the 1970s with a clean and green environment, Prof. Lokendra highlighted how rapid urbanization and modernization in the past 10–15 years have reshaped the socio-economic landscape. He urged the government to adopt systematic planning to prevent further deterioration and suggested introducing Solid Waste Management in academic curricula to build long-term awareness.
Tourangbam Brajakumar, director of the Department of Environment and Climate Change, stressed that the 27 urban local bodies under Imphal generate huge volumes of household solid waste daily. However, only a fraction is collected by municipalities, while much remains scattered, worsening pollution levels. He appealed to the public to reduce waste generation and contribute to maintaining cleanliness.
Ngangom Uttam Singh, director of MAHUD and IPR, joined the inaugural along with L. Swamikanta Singh, chairman, IEI Manipur State Centre.
Th. Subhaschandra Singh, convenor of the National Advisory Committee and honorary secretary, IEI Manipur SC, and Kh. Nimo Singh, convenor of the seminar, also graced the occasion.
A souvenir was released as part of the inaugural programme.
The morning technical session, chaired by M. Lokendro Singh, retired chief engineer PWD and past IEI chairman, featured an invited talk on policy and legal frameworks by Uttam Singh, followed by a presentation by Konthoujam Khelchandra Singh of Manipur University on key challenges in municipal waste management.
Research scholars presented papers on topics ranging from wood chips as catalysts to agricultural waste in water treatment.
In the afternoon session chaired by L. Swamikanta Singh, deliberations included a talk by Taorem Leikhendra, Secretary of CRED Manipur, on waste management challenges and initiatives in the state. Papers presented covered fish waste utilization, behavioural changes in waste practices, e-waste recycling, and solid waste management in Chandel town.
The two-day seminar, which continued on Saturday, sought to foster innovative approaches and collaborative strategies for a sustainable waste management system in Manipur and beyond.
