Mizoram, as compared to the other states, is rather fortunate in terms of pollution problems. The very fact that it is located at high altitude with thick vegetation coupled with high average rainfall gives a pleasant climate. It was once boasted that Mizoram is one of the most pleasant states as far as climate condition is concerned. Just like an air-conditioned room, it was neither too cold nor too hot. The temperature ranged between 5⁰ C (min) to 28⁰ C (max) experiencing all four seasons — summer, winter, spring, autumn.

But now, those days are gone due to various reasons. The following highlighted the environmental status of Mizoram ( an overview).

The constant rise in temperature in Aizawl town is the indication that pollution is on the increase. The maximum temperature has reached as high as 38 degree C with humidity reaching 80. The major source of air pollution in Mizoram are vehicles, forest fires including jhum burning, few industrial activities and dust.

To control the Automobile exhaust emission, the state government has only recently taken steps to enforce the existing statues. Following the Government's notification in the Official Gazette, the State Transport Department started testing and issuing the Pollution under Control Certificate to the Government vehicles. Private owned vehicles are yet to be given this certificate. This is done in Aizawl District only whereas in all the other four Districts, this is not done yet. The concerned department is not equipped sufficiently with the monitoring instruments; in fact, it is working only with one machine each for diesel and petrol driven vehicle testing machines.

Forest fires including jhum burning is another major source of air pollution in the state. However, the extent and level of pollution caused by this is not monitored by anybody, not even the State Pollution Control Board for want of air quality monitoring instruments as well as the personnel.

Industrial activities are luckily minimum in the state. Yet, during the past few years, some polluting industries have started coming up. Among them are mini-cement plants, food processing units, sugar units, leather tanning units, tyre retreading units, flour mills, stone crushing units, etc. Pollution controls in these units are practically nil. The Pollution Control Board had given NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATES for setting up industries, however, no action has been taken so far for the existing and polluting industries. The need to control these units are crucial before the boom in the industrial activities take place. The Mizoram Water (Prevention & Control) Rules and the Mizoram Air (Prevention & Control Pollution) Rules, the draft of which are pending with the government for finalisation should be passed very soon to control this pollution.

As stated above, industrial water pollution is almost negligible, as there are not many water polluting industries. However, pollution arising out of domestic sources and motor workshops is quite a problem. There is no effluent treatment system in Mizoram. All the waste water is let off everywhere that ultimately joined the rivers polluting the water stretches including ground water as well. Howver, the extent of water pollution is not assessed yet. In addition to this, chemical fertilisers which have been used extensively in the agricultural sector also contributed towards water pollution, and the Centre for Environment Protection (CEP) is trying it best in this regard to stop every possible water pollutants by way of awareness campaign and the like.

Municipal solid wastes are becoming a problem now. In the absence of municipal authorities, the Local Administration Department (LAD) and the Land Revenue & Settlement Department handled the municipal solid wastes. Collections are made in an open truck and dumped in the cliff below which there generally exist water sources, such as rivers or streams. There are neither any landfill sites nor incinerators. Sometimes the solid wastes are burnt in an open air without segregation causing air pollution.

It is high time that municipal solid wastes are managed and handled in a proper, scientific and higienic ways. It may be required that special methods for management of solid waste in the hilly areas be developed as most of the method mentioned in the Muncipal Solid Waste Management Rules are not applicable. Meanwhile, CEP is planning to set up solid waste treatment & recyling centre. However, due to lack of infrastructure nothing can be done by its own.

The entire hospitals and nursing homes do not manage their wastes properly. Wastes are dumped in the public bin and are disposed along with other municipal solid wastes to an open dumping areas ! As vehemently requested to the State Government by C.E.P. now, the state Government had constituted the Prescribed Authority and the Advisory Committee as per the Bio-Medical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 1998, it is hoped that action will be taken in accordance with the rerquirements specified in the rules. Meanwhile, C.E.P. has already proposed to set up the Bio-Medical Wastes Treatment Centre, but it could only be a reality if the project is funded/financed from outside.

Noise pollution is one area that is neglected so far. The major sources of noise pollution are the vehicles, fabrication workshops, furniture workshops, generators, crackers, loudspeakers and other mechanical devices. No action has been taken to control noise pollution emanating out of these sources except banning of crackers burning during Christmas and New Year. The CEP has already conducted ambient air quality monitoring in respect of noise in Aizawl city, this research is the first of its kind in Mizoram state, and based on the research findings CEP has already submitted an application to the Govt. of Mizoram to constitute an appropriate authority for the maintenance of the ambient air quality in respect of noise as per the Noise Pollution (Regulation & Control) Rules, 2000. However, nothing has been done until now !!

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