Waste segregation at source will be made mandatory in Kohima, and vehicles carrying unsegregated waste will not be permitted to unload, the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC) said during a district review meeting on October 12. The meeting examined implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules in the district.

Deputy Commissioner Kohima B Henok Buchem chaired the meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office. KMC Chief Executive Officer Alemyapang Longchar said the council was conducting information, education and communication programmes across wards to promote segregation and proper disposal of waste.

The council is also planning to streamline collection through designated collection points and fixed timings. The review covered measures to strengthen community participation and enforcement, improve waste collection and processing infrastructure, promote recycling, reduce dependence on landfills and ensure accountability among waste generators.

Longchar emphasised the need for accurate digital reporting and timely updates on the centralised online portal. He also sought technical guidance and training for local bodies to improve reporting and compliance, along with dedicated staff to maintain continuity in sanitation management.

Participants identified inadequate waste-processing infrastructure, limited public awareness, financial constraints, gaps in data reporting and weak coordination among stakeholders as key challenges. Buchem proposed a dedicated workshop with resource persons and relevant stakeholder departments to discuss implementation, improve coordination and identify practical solutions for solid waste management. Officials from the district administration, Urban Development, Rural Development and the Public Health Engineering Department, among others, attended the meeting.