The Pasighat Municipal Council (PMC) has rolled out a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to establish ‘no garbage zones’ along both sides of the national highway passing through the township, as well as across the main market and key sector roads.
Launched under the aegis of the ‘Denam Aanam Abhiyan’, the initiative seeks to tighten sanitation measures and encourage more responsible waste disposal practices across the town’s busiest stretches. By focusing on critical public corridors, the programme aims to instil a greater sense of civic responsibility while ensuring cleaner and more orderly urban spaces.
Enforcement should be consistent but not purely punitive. A mix of awareness drives, signages, and fines for violations can gradually change behaviour. Enforcement must also be visibly fair and regular to build credibility. Awareness campaigns under the Denam Aanam Abhiyan should be continuous rather than one-time events and school students, youth groups, and civil society can be involved to create a culture of cleanliness that extends beyond rules.
The community should be made a key stakeholder, and the participation of local shopkeepers, residents’ groups, and market associations is crucial. Infrastructure must also match intent, with adequate bins for segregated waste (wet, dry, and hazardous), along with scheduled waste collection and proper disposal mechanisms. Without these, enforcement alone will not be effective.