Nagaland’s capital Kohima and commercial hub Dimapur are among 131 cities in India where air quality has failed to meet the national permissible standards and the onus is on the government as well as the public. That the achievement of clean air is a joint responsibility was the crux message of the one-day workshop on National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) organised by the Kohima District Administration in collaboration with the Kohima Press Club (KPC) on September 12, at the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) Conference Hall, Kohima.
DC Kohima, B Henok Buchem emphasising the importance of environmental stewardship, said urbanisation must be managed carefully to preserve the forests and biodiversity that act as “natural allies” against pollution. Pointing out that Kohima as a district is now 146 years old and has become home to every Naga community being the state capital, he said Kohima’s air is a shared inheritance and protecting it is not a single policy, or a seasonal campaign. “It should remain our lifestyle—it should be a continuous, collective effort,” DC Buchem said. He encouraged all the citizens to commit to turning awareness into action, policy into practice, data into decisions, and collaboration into measurable improvement in air quality.
Expressing concern that Kohima is among the 131 “non-attainment cities” in India where air quality has not met national standards, Buchem called for simple but effective measures like walking or cycling short distances, carpooling, and responsible waste disposal.
He cited everyday examples of pollution caused by careless practices such as littering, roadside dumping of construction materials, and releasing septic waste into rivers, and underscored the responsibility of the public to avoid such practices.
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Buchem also called upon the media to play a critical role in responsible reporting, accountability, and awareness building as well as change in behavioural change in civic life. He said the press is the mirror and conscience keeper of a society. “You are not just observers, but catalysts—your reporting shapes public perception, demands accountability, and builds a culture of precaution and responsibility,” the DC said.
He further urged the press fraternity to raise public discourse on topics that could reduce air pollution in Nagaland’s urban areas.
KPC President, Alice Yhoshü, in her short speech mentioned that clean air is the first thing we need for a healthy life. She highlighted that the Supreme Court has also taken cognisance that good environment is a fundamental right, and has put the onus on the government to make efforts for better environment for its citizens- to take on clean air as a mission.
“Efforts for cleanliness, including clean air, is not, and should not be a one-time affair; it should not be an effort of a single department or entity; it should always be a collaborative effort,” she said.
Yhoshü mentioned that departments and organisations have to join hands together whether it is the Public Works Department, the municipal body, Urban Development, Public Health Engineering, Traffic/Transport, Forest etc., but ultimately it should have the active engagement of the public.
From a layperson’s point of view, she said, bettering the air quality in Kohima is possible, but authorities have to ensure constant monitoring and the public need to implement good practices whether it is waste disposal including construction waste, solid and plastic waste and medical waste.
She acknowledged the Kohima District Administration for collaborating with the Kohima Press Club on the clean air mission for Kohima, which is also the state capital.
“You are the first Deputy Commissioner to come forward to actively involve with us, the media fraternity, on this. We offer our readiness to respond in the efforts in any way that we can,” she told Buchem.
Scientist B, Nagaland Pollution Control Board Yanathung Kithan delivered a detailed presentation on air pollution with particular reference to Kohima city. He said the major contributors to poor air quality were road dust caused by poor road conditions and traffic movement, the open burning of waste, vehicular emissions from increasing traffic, and construction and demolition activities. He also cautioned that indoor air pollution from the use of firewood for cooking continues to affect households across the districts. Kithan explained that such pollution has serious health consequences, leading to respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and reduced lung function etc.
The expert emphasised that even though Kohima does not have heavy industries or factories, the cumulative effect of everyday practices has led to concerning air quality levels. He underlined the need for constant monitoring and data collection, the adoption of cleaner fuels and technologies, and better waste management systems.
Kithan also drew attention to the national target under NCAP for reducing pollution levels by 40 per cent by 2026, remarking that if the programme can succeed in Kohima, it can succeed anywhere.
Earlier, the keynote address was delivered by Extra Assistant Commissioner Kohima Dr. Riku Khutso, who explained the objectives and implementation of the NCAP since its launch in 2019. He pointed out that Kohima and Dimapur are listed among India’s non-attainment cities and stressed the importance of building community ownership of both assets and problems, including waste management.
The programme was chaired by KPC general secretary Vishü Rita Krocha who expressed appreciation to the Kohima District Administration for collaborating with the press club as part of the yearlong celebration of the 25th anniversary of KPC. She informed that the KPC is organising workshops, seminars and talks on various topics as part of the celebration.
KPC member Narayan Bahadur proposed the vote of thanks. An interaction session was also held following the formal programme. Indoor air-cleaning plant saplings were distributed to participants as part of the initiative.
