Post-Flood Plastic Waste Crisis in Upper Assam: Urgent Cleanup Needed
Plastic Waste Accumulates in Flood-Hit Areas
Members from Self-Help Groups cleaning up waste generated from relief items in Sivasagar (Photo: AT)
Sivasagar, Aug 11: The recent flood relief efforts in Upper Assam, while saving lives, have inadvertently resulted in a significant increase in plastic waste.
In the flood-affected regions of Sivasagar and Charaideo, a large number of empty water bottles and plastic bags have piled up, highlighting a critical gap in waste management following the disaster, even as aid continues to flow into these communities.
With many areas still lacking access to safe drinking water, bottled water has become essential for residents. However, the lack of a proper disposal system has turned several relief distribution sites into makeshift dumping grounds, leading to urgent calls for action.
Villages such as Nepali Khuti, Santak, Simoluguri, Nazira, and Betbari in Sivasagar district, along with Lahani Gaon, Chuladhara, Kalita Gaon, Nigiripukhuri, Nimolia, Padum Pukhuri, and Kamalchapori in Charaideo, have reported a noticeable increase in plastic waste.
Gopal Sharma from Nepali Khuti remarked that while the community support has been heartening, the sheer volume of relief supplies has resulted in substantial waste. He stated, “Those who came to assist consumed bottled water and left the empty bottles behind. We had no choice but to discard them here. Now, it is up to the administration to clean these areas.”
Local estimates suggest that around 2,000 vehicles delivering relief supplies are arriving daily in some of the most affected regions.
A recent visit to various flood-impacted villages revealed plastic bottles littering roadsides, around temporary shelters, and near distribution points.
The issue is particularly severe in locations where safe drinking water is still scarce, compelling both residents and relief workers to depend heavily on packaged water.
Empty plastic bottles of drinking water scattered without a proper designated area around relief camps in flood-hit areas (Photo: AT)
Environmental issues are now intertwined with public health concerns. The floodwaters have left behind mud, debris, and stagnant water in many areas, raising fears that unmanaged waste could exacerbate sanitary conditions.
Debangshu Das, a local youth from Bihubar, expressed that while the relief efforts have been impressive, waste management has not kept pace. He questioned, “Why hasn’t any arrangement been made to collect and remove these plastic bottles?”
Arup Duwara from Betbari echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that while the community appreciates the assistance, the focus must now shift to cleanup and rehabilitation efforts. “The administration needs to clean the roads and villages that remain filthy. Plastic bottles are everywhere, and these issues must be addressed promptly,” he urged.
Some residents acknowledged that cleanup initiatives have started but cautioned that the problem is escalating as relief operations continue. Alakesh Pathak from Sivasagar noted, “Some cleaning has occurred, but with ongoing assistance, the administration must monitor the situation to prevent further accumulation of plastic waste.”
In response to these concerns, officials from the Sivasagar District Information and Public Relations Office (DIPRO) stated that measures are already in place to address the issue. They revealed that a special initiative has been launched in collaboration with self-help groups (SHGs) to collect plastic bottles and ensure their proper disposal.
“This initiative aims to mitigate environmental pollution and safeguard nature from future hazards,” an official mentioned, adding that it also allows SHG members to engage in meaningful community service.
Cleaning drives initiated by district administration for proper disposal of plastic wastes (Photo: AT)
The administration has urged residents and volunteers to dispose of plastic waste only at designated collection points and to support efforts to maintain cleanliness in flood-affected areas.
As Upper Assam gradually recovers, the heaps of plastic waste scattered throughout flood-impacted villages serve as a stark reminder that disasters often leave behind lasting impacts beyond the immediate destruction they cause.