JOWAI: The Kiang Nangbah Memorial Stadium, Ladthadlaboh in West Jaintia Hills is a famous playground. The youngsters are often seen to be playing in the stadium and a huge crowd gathers to watch the matches. However, the area is extremely untidy and full of filth, said a resident of Ladthadlaboh.
Throughout his walk to the stadium, Chanlang Ki Bareh said “I stumbled upon piles of junks and mini plastic bags surrounding the artificial turf of the ground.” Bareh informed that these small plastic bags are from the nearby market where the hawkers sell fruits, snacks, tobaccos and others.
During football matches a number of people gather, and happened to purchase the Rs 10 packet of fruits refreshments. However, the public dump the plastic bags in the open space near the stadium, making the place unattractive and infected. On the other hand, Jowai, Iawmusiang is also piling up with junks. The Christmas market is not only bringing good sales but also tons of garbage.
Iawmusiang market near, Shairwar Dalloi building and just outside the DC’s office is a dumping ground for the public. “It is here that a heap of wastage is seen to be exposed like there is no workforce, locality members or municipality to clean up the mess, said Bareh.
He further added that people walked straight passed by the smelly dumping ground. It is on the roadside and nobody is seemed to be bothered not even the concerned departments.
“December 31 is the climax where like every year, we will witness people preparing for the New Year and of course, fireworks where people will spend a tremendous amount of money to please themselves at the cost of our lungs,” said Bareh.
Talking about air pollution, he said that in some localities of Jowai, there are times when it feels like air becomes unbreathable. The massive bursting of firecracker produces disrupting substances that may be harmful to the environment, not to mention the lung-clogging smoke they release and plastic debris they scatter.
“So much for our Swachta hi seva which was initiated in the year 2014, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon the nation to fight filth and open defecation, change old habits and achieve a Swachh Bharat by 2019,” Bareh said.
Contributed by
Chanlang Ki Bareh