Doyang: Tourist hotspot being ruined by trash

April 1, 2021 144 Views No Comment

Wokha, March 31 (MExN): Located in Wokha district, Doyang Hydro Project is one of the most popular hot spot tourist attraction and the “only surviving power plant” in Nagaland. According to National Register of Large Dams, Doyang is the only completed dam in Nagaland constructed on River Doyang, a tributary of River Brahmaputra.

Lately, littering has become a cause of concern in Doyang. It is being contaminated by waste like plastic bags and bottles, cigarette butts, alcohol bottles and beer cans, disposable cups and plates, chips cover, beverage cans etc.

Taking note of the environmental hazards, a meeting on integrated management approach on plastic waste and pollution was convened under the initiative of D Hayithung Patton, Officer Incharge, Doyang Outpost Police Station convened on March 12. Various stakeholders, students bodies and the Church organizations were invited to the meeting, informed a press release issued by Yanrenthung J Humtsoe.

During the meeting, Hayithung expressed concern on the littering in Doyang and urgently called for public participation and the need to develop sense of cleanliness.

The house deliberated on making Doyang ‘free plastic zone.’ It also stressed that “if necessary, strict rules and guidelines will be laid down for transforming Doyang into plastic free tourist hot spot.” The meeting also proposed on displaying banners and hoardings at various areas of Doyang to prevent and stop the visitors from littering.

As decided in the meeting, a mass social work was conducted on March 20 with participation from various stakeholders, student bodies and church organisation.

Tons of garbage were collected and disposed at proper disposal site. Waste bins were also installed on various locations. Visitors are urged to make proper use of the waste bins.

Land Owners Union (LOU), DHEP, Doyang during mass social work affirmed to commit themselves for the social welfare of the people and urged the citizens to reduce and manage plastic pollution.

According to the press release, LOU remarked that “up streams of Doyang dam adjoining other districts also flows down the upward waste making it another challenging task for waste management in Doyang.”

LOU said that two dumping sites of degradable and non-degradable had been built at left bank area. However, it has been non-functional for many years as the area had been covered with thick bushes and weeds making it non visible for the public.

The release also stated that Lotha Hoho Doyang, General Secretary lamented the “improper waste disposal at Doyang.” He expressed hope that through the initiative of various stakeholders and NGOs, ‘Clean Doyang’ will be possible in the near future.

Need campaign on NIWMP 2019
Meanwhile, the release noted that the Nagaland Integrated Waste Management Policy (NIWMP) 2019 was enacted by the state government covers all urban and rural areas of the state, targets efficient management and proper disposal of waste and educate the people to segregate bio-degradable, recyclable and inert waste at source.

“The intention of the policy is to enable the community to reduce waste, reuse and recycle. As per the policy, waste management scenario in the state is still by and large rudimentary in the absence of proper policy or any regulatory mechanism,” it stated.

Doyang a hot spot tourist destination, it receives a large number of visitors from different regions of Nagaland, and other states of India and from different parts of the world. Tourism is also a sensitive industry when it comes to rules and regulations.

Therefore, it stated that the Government through the Department of Tourism and with the support of various stakeholders should launch a campaign to advertise the salient features about new approach towards safe handling of waste.

“Technical support of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department and NGOs can be sought to propagate the messages. A package of practices for responsible tourism can be developed along with standard practices for material use, recovery and safe disposal of all waste,” it suggested.

Source: https://morungexpress.com/doyang-tourist-hotspot-being-ruined-by-thrash