All the residents and shopkeepers do not have a proper place to dump wastes. As a result, some resort to burning the garbage, giving rise to pollution and other health hazards.

“You will inhale the smoke while getting up in the morning, and by evening time, you will see plastics, asbestos and other wastes being burned with smoke,” TAT said, speaking to the Imphal Free Press.

TAT secretary Abuana Newmai told the IFP that traders’ association has been urging the department concerned but hardly any changes are seen till date.”

Newmai said that TAT may plan to boycott the collection of charges in the coming days as an act of protest against the department.

Earlier, the department had only one dumper /tipper truck which used to cater the service although not on a regular basis, he said.

However, right after the election, the department had brought two brand new tipper trucks, raising hopes among the public that the service would be improved but nothing has changed till date, he added.

“We will not be surprised to see a lot of pollution and hazardous conditions in the coming days if we still continue to move on in this trend,” he added.

The traders also alleged that the solid wastes were collected only once in a month; sometimes solid wastes were collected once in two months.

When contacted, Tamenglong ADC Small Town Committee extension officer Ningthung Panmei said that due to dilapidated condition of the roads, the frequency of the waste collection has reduced.

The frequent changing of the chief executive officer, ADC Tamenglong also hampered collection of solid wastes in the town, he added.