Tezu, Jan 19: A review meeting on the implementation of user fee charges under the Solid Waste Management (SWM) framework was held on Monday at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Tezu.
The meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner, Lohit, Kesang Ngurup Damo, who welcomed all participants and felicitated newly elected Zilla Parishad Chairperson Basanlu Yun Delang, along with representatives from Feedback Foundation, Ajay Sinha and Tanu Sonowal.
The meeting began with an introductory address by Bapenlu Kri, Executive Engineer, Urban Development, who outlined the vision of the department to transform Tezu Urban Local Body into a model town for effective solid waste management in Arunachal Pradesh. She briefed the gathering on the rationale behind introducing user charges, the partial outsourcing of Material Recovery Facility (MRF) operations to Feedback Foundation, and the long-term objective of establishing a sustainable, people-driven waste management system.
A detailed presentation on the proposed action plan and pricing structure for the implementation of user fee charges was made by the Junior Engineer, DUDA.
Addressing the gathering, Deputy Commissioner Kesang Ngurup Damo stressed that cleanliness is fundamental to public health, environmental protection, and urban development. He urged all stakeholders to cooperate for the successful implementation of the SWM action plan and said Tezu, being a small and manageable town, has the advantage of faster behavioural transformation.
Emphasising dignity and respect for sanitation workers, the DC called for equal treatment of frontline workers and full community support. He also shared a personal anecdote to underline the importance of civic discipline, stating that lasting cleanliness begins with individual responsibility. He appealed to all residents, traders and institutions to follow waste segregation norms, avoid littering, and support the new system to build a cleaner and healthier Tezu.
Thereafter, Ajay Sinha of Feedback Foundation shared the organisation’s experience of working across more than 100 Urban Local Bodies in cities such as Indore, Goa, Bhopal and Pondicherry. He highlighted that waste management must be treated as a shared civic responsibility, with strong emphasis on source segregation, behaviour change, and public participation. He proposed daily door-to-door collection, mandatory segregated waste pickup, introduction of four-partitioned collection vehicles, NADEP composting for organic waste, construction of a sanitation park and boundary wall at the MRF, and establishment of RRR (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) centres.
The foundation also outlined plans for ward-level awareness campaigns, school engagement, sanitation worker dignity initiatives, PPE usage, quarterly health check-ups, and a target of achieving 90% source segregation within 90 days. Special strategies were discussed for bulk waste generators, commercial establishments, markets and institutions, including separate MoUs and zero-waste certification.
During the open discussion, Gulabso Bellai ZPM Sunpura, Bajenso Kri MWA, representatives from civil society organisations, Gaon Burahs, SBM Ambassadors and others  welcomed the initiative and underlined the need for strict enforcement, extensive awareness drives, designated market zones, and strong inter-departmental coordination. DIPRO

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
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