Camera traps against garbage dumping in Gangtok Jhoras

Camera traps against garbage dumping in Gangtok Jhoras
Sikkim Express | www.sikkimexpress

Camera traps against garbage dumping in Gangtok Jhoras

13 March, Gangtok: The Gangtok Municipal Corporation (GMC), which is engaged in a cleanliness drive of 50-odd jhoras in its 15 wards since last week of February as a precautionary measure for the upcoming monsoon season, would be installing camera trap in the jhoras being used by the people for dumping garbage’s.
“All jhoras are prone to landslides and being used as a garbage dumping spot for the people will be fitted and scanned by the night vision CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) cameras. Anyone found throwing a garbage will be abruptly taken an action by GMC. The stealth camera would be placed in unnoticeable locations at the spot as such would be monitored by the local committee”, said the Mayor KN Topgay to media who is supervising a cleanliness drive in Chandmari Area. Today was a turn of cleansing Lopchu Jhora which falls under Chandmari , it was supervised by the mayor, GMC representative and 15 labours. Locals also took participation into the event. The Lopchu Jhora had been included under the Brahmaputra projects for repair and protective works two years ago but the works have not yet completed which the Mayor attributed due to some technical weaknesses. There are six jhoras in Chandmari ward. The cleanliness drive is undergoing in two jhoras and the remaining four will be cleaned up by March, said Topgay. He also said that the local committees have been formed to keep a watch on jhoras and prevent garbage’s dumping. Similarly jhoras cleanliness drive was undertaken at Sichey ward under the supervision of the ward Councillor Nilu Chettri. The Mayor also gave his presence to encourage the drive. The GMC had undertaken the cleanliness drive of jhoras in the capital as precautionary measures to contain urban disasters usually induced by clogged and fragile jhoras which assumes monstrous proportions during the monsoons.

Most of the slides that took place in Gangtok in previous monsoon has been largely attributed to garbage’s being dumped and clogged in those jhoras thereby choking the water flow abruptly and eroding the retaining walls. Though dumping of garbage’s in jhoras attracts fines in Sikkim, the law is more on paper than implementation compelling the Mayor to direct all the councillors to clean the jhoras in their areas before March 31.
The Mayor has also informed that in the days, the GMC would be taking up the mission to make Gangtok free from mineral water plastic bottles menace and other plastic bottle drinks by monitoring their disposal. A meeting will be held first with local stakeholders, he said.