HT Correspondent
TAWANG, July 23: A four-day awareness campaign aimed at strengthening Solid Waste Management practices and reinforcing the ban on single-use plastic carry bags was inaugurated this afternoon at the Old Market Community Hall in Tawang.
The initiative, being conducted by the Department of Urban Development (UD) in collaboration with the District Administration, Women Welfare Association (WWA), Market Welfare Committee, and the Clean Tawang Task Force, was formally launched in the presence of officials, community leaders, and local residents.
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The programme, part of a concerted effort to promote sustainable civic habits and environmental consciousness, is set to cover all four major market areas and the Tawang Monastery.
It will conclude on July 25.
According to an official statement issued by the Department of Urban Development, the campaign is focused on educating the public on the importance of waste segregation, the long-term hazards of plastic pollution, and the need to foster a culture of responsibility and respect for sanitation workers.
In her welcome address, Executive Engineer Phurpa Lamu underlined the critical importance of adhering to the principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (3Rs).
She informed the gathering that the district would soon implement sanitation charges on commercial establishments, including shops and hotels, based on their operational scale and waste output.
This, she said, is intended to hold stakeholders accountable for the management of the waste they generate.
Assistant Commissioner-cum-Town Magistrate Sangey Norbu, addressing the audience, made a fervent appeal for reducing plastic usage in the larger interest of future generations.
Referring to the ongoing celebrations of the 90th birth anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he declared 2025 as the “Year of Compassion” and urged citizens to align their environmental actions with compassionate intent.
“We must internalize behavioural change in how we treat our environment. Tawang is not just a place to do business—it is a shared home,” he said, especially calling upon traders from outside the region to contribute positively to the town’s welfare.
The AC also noted that the administration would soon begin levying penalties on shop owners who fail to adhere to proper waste segregation norms.
Stressing the dignity of labour, he called for greater respect and cooperation towards sanitation workers and emphasised the community’s shared responsibility in maintaining public hygiene.
Yangkey Lhamo, representing the WWA, gave a detailed account of the organisation’s ongoing efforts in plastic segregation and waste reduction.
She praised the children of Jhamtse Gatsal School in Lungla for their innovative plastic reusability models, which, she said, should serve as an example for all.
Lhamo encouraged local shopkeepers and market vendors to segregate their waste properly and deposit it with the WWA for further processing.
She also lauded the cooperation shown by residents of Shyo Village, Mandrelling, and Changbu in supporting the association’s waste management drives.
The programme will continue with a series of outreach activities, interactive sessions, and demonstrations aimed at reinforcing the district’s commitment to eliminating plastic pollution and promoting environmentally sound waste disposal practices.
Officials said they were hopeful that this initiative would serve as a catalyst for lasting behavioural change within the local business community and among residents alike.
