SEPPA, Jun 30: In a significant step towards environmental sustainability and statutory compliance, the East Kameng District Administration today convened a district awareness workshop and coordination meeting at the Abotani conference hall under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Yashaswini B.
The workshop aimed to sensitize line departments, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), and community representatives on the effective implementation of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026 and compliance with the directives of the Supreme Court of India.
Bringing together members of the District SWM Special Cells, Urban Development, Public Health Engineering & Rural Development Departments, and PRIs, the meeting adopted a time-bound, multi-sectoral roadmap to strengthen scientific waste management across the district.
The event came up with major decisions and action points vis-à-vis Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026.
Scientific Waste Management: Four-way source segregation will be implemented through decentralised collection points. Urban centres including Seppa, Chayangtajo, and Bameng will establish dedicated collection facilities, while every Gram Panchayat will identify at least one cluster-level waste collection point.
Urban areas will strengthen municipal waste processing systems, while rural areas will integrate biomethanation units, Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), and composting infrastructure into Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) using resources under the Swachh Bharat Mission and Panchayats.
Plastic Waste Management: Public awareness campaigns promoting the principles of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle will be intensified alongside stricter enforcement against littering. A notified penalty framework will be implemented to curb plastic pollution in rivers and public spaces.
Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs): Commercial establishments generating over 100 kg of waste per day will be brought under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework. Identification and portal registration of BWGs in Seppa township will be completed by 15th July 2026, along with the notification of user charges for commercial waste management.
Enforcement and Accountability: The administration reaffirmed the implementation of the ‘Polluter Pays’ Principle’. In accordance with the directives of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the District Magistrate may order the disconnection of water and electricity supply to commercial establishments that persistently violate statutory waste management norms.
Strengthening Rural Institutions: Functional SWM assets created under the Swachh Bharat Mission will be formally transferred to GPs, as GPCs and ZPMs are entrusted with their operation and monitoring.
Community Participation and Revenue Measures: To strengthen public participation and ensure sustainable operations, the meeting resolved to conduct weekly supervised cleanliness drives across Seppa township involving government departments, market committees, educational institutions, and community volunteers.
Concluding the meeting, the DC directed all implementing departments, member secretaries, and local authorities to ensure timely execution of the resolutions. Fortnightly progress reports have been mandated to monitor implementation and ensure full compliance with national environmental regulations and the directives of the Supreme Court. (DIPRO)