Dibrugarh Intensifies Anti-Plastic Campaign as Monsoon Approaches
With the monsoon season just six weeks away, the Dibrugarh Municipal Corporation (DMC) has launched a comprehensive citywide awareness drive targeting single-use plastic. This urgent initiative, conducted in partnership with the local non-governmental organization Shrishti, aims to mitigate the severe waterlogging that plagues the city annually during heavy rains.
Addressing a Persistent Civic Crisis
Recurrent waterlogging during monsoon months has long been a major source of distress for Dibrugarh residents. Civic authorities have identified indiscriminate disposal of single-use plastic—particularly polythene bags—as a primary factor clogging the city's drainage network. When storm drains and natural channels become choked with plastic waste, even moderate rainfall transforms busy streets and low-lying neighborhoods into urban pools, disrupting daily life and creating serious public health risks.
World Earth Day Initiative with Tangible Solutions
Held on World Earth Day with the theme "No to Single-Use Plastic," Wednesday's drive specifically targeted shopkeepers, traders, and citizens across markets, commercial areas, and residential localities. Volunteers from Shrishti NGO, accompanied by DMC officials, engaged in direct conversations about the environmental and health hazards associated with single-use plastics, including:
- Soil contamination from plastic waste
- Clogged waterways and drainage systems
- Entry of microplastics into the food chain
- Increased flood risks during monsoon season
As a practical alternative, the campaign distributed cloth bags free of cost, encouraging immediate adoption of reusable carry bags. Many shopkeepers expressed willingness to stop offering plastic bags to customers, while numerous residents pledged to bring their own cloth bags when shopping.
Municipal Leadership Emphasizes Urgency
Dibrugarh Mayor Saikat Patra highlighted the critical timing of the campaign, noting that the monsoon typically begins in early June. "We have less than two months to prepare," Patra stated. "Every polythene bag that enters a drain today represents a potential flood risk tomorrow. This drive will continue across all city wards until the message reaches every household."
The mayor announced that DMC plans to extend the outreach program to schools, colleges, and weekly markets throughout the city. Authorities are also expected to intensify enforcement against single-use plastic usage as the monsoon season approaches, recognizing that awareness alone may not suffice to address the persistent waterlogging problem.
Broader Environmental Context
This initiative represents a proactive approach to urban environmental management in Dibrugarh, where plastic pollution has compounded existing infrastructure challenges. By targeting plastic waste before the monsoon arrives, municipal authorities hope to reduce both immediate waterlogging and long-term environmental degradation. The campaign's success will depend on sustained community participation and effective follow-up enforcement measures in the coming weeks.
