Waste management remains a growing concern in Geyzing

KUSH HANG LEEWANG

GEYZING,: Despite repeated awareness campaigns on waste management conducted by government agencies and non-profit organizations every year, lack of civic sense among residents continues to be a glaring issue, especially in urban areas. Geyzing, the district headquarters town, has not remained untouched by this persistent problem.

Geyzing Nagar Panchayat (GNP), the town’s civic body, has been making sincere efforts to address the waste management crisis through various initiatives. However, these efforts appear insufficient in comparison to the rising population and the corresponding increase in waste generation.

The GNP has deployed waste collection vehicles to cover households across the town, and penalties are imposed on defaulters. Closed-circuit cameras installed in the town’s main market areas also monitor individuals who flout sanitation norms by dumping waste irresponsibly. While these measures have improved surveillance, they have inadvertently driven some individuals to seek isolated areas beyond the reach of CCTV surveillance to dispose of their waste.

One such area, located between the Reythang cliff and the Christian community’s graveyard along Geyzing-Sakyong road, is reportedly turning into an unofficial dumping ground. Large heaps of domestic waste are scattered around the steep terrain, giving the area an unsightly appearance and indicating that the site has been used for dumping over a prolonged period. It is yet to be determined whether the waste originates from the nearby Geyzing bazaar or surrounding households.

According to estimates, nearly two truckloads of waste could be retrieved from the steep site.

GNP’s bazaar officer Kesangla Sherpa denied that the waste could be from the town bazaar. He stated that the Nagar Panchayat collects waste from every household and transports it to the designated landfill site at Sicchey.

However, as the town’s population continues to grow, so does the waste generated from commercial establishments and residential areas. This raises a pressing question: Does Geyzing have the infrastructure and capacity to effectively manage its waste problem?

Some local residents believe that the waste might be coming from households within the bazaar area, and they argue that waste collection vehicles do not cover rural areas. People in these villages, they say, have been managing their waste independently for generations.

“Dumping waste in a steep, landslide-prone area is a major concern. If this reckless practice continues, residents living downhill may face serious risks in the future,” warned a local resident.

Another individual highlighted the vulnerability of the area. “The area just nearby the site, along Geyzing-Sakyong road, has been devastated by continuous landslides, sweeping away the stretch of road and compelling the authority to construct alternative route. Throwing waste at a landslide-prone stretch reflects sick mentality of the people. The defaulters should either be educated or fined", said an individual.

Journalist Narendra Rai stressed the need for waste management campaigns to move beyond the confines of conference halls. He said that real change can only happen at the grassroots level.

Authorities need to be on the ground to assess the situation, he remarked.

Although numerous government initiatives have been launched to tackle the issue of waste, the ground reality paints a starkly different picture. Waste management continues to be a teething problem, not just in Geyzing, but across the State.