Kohima, Nov 7 (UNI) As the Nagaland Hornbill Festival 2019 coming closure, the state government has prepared itself to organise the 10-day long international tourist festival to ensure it a plastic free, zero waste and clean festival. The Nagaland Hornbill Festival will begin from December 1 next at the Naga Heritage Village at Kisama, about 10 Kms east of Kohima, for which a coordination meeting took place here on Wednesday between the Nagaland Tourism Department, Art & Culture
and tribal Hohos to discuss on various issues like management of morungs (dormitories), cultural troupes, accommodation, transportation and others.
To a ensure plastic free and zero waste Hornbill Festival 2019, the Tourism Department requested the tribal Hohos, apex bodies of all tribes, to extend their cooperation. The Convener of Zero Waste Himalayan, Nagaland (ZWHN), LH Thangi Mannen said that Zero Waste is all about complete reduction of single use plastic items such as PET bottles, Styrofoam (thermocol)/ Plastic utensils (plates/ spoons/ forks/ straws, cups), multilayered plastics of food packaging, plastic bags, PP bags, plastic gift warps and others.
“This would also include plastic decorations, flex banners and volunteer identity cards. The reduction is followed by segregation for recovering resources and responsible disposal and no burning,” she told the meeting. She further insisted on restricting packaged drinking water in food stalls or anywhere in the venue. Mannen urged tribal Hohos to ensure boiled and filtered water/dispensers (adequate quantity) are made available in convenient locations in sufficient number, and that
reusable bottles and bamboo mugs be provided to visitors.
Regarding food stalls and other stalls, she viewed that local food cultures be promoted, while restricting use of plastic wraps.
Further, she called for curtailment of packaged food products, while encouraging the use of reusable utensils.
Addressing the meeting, the Principal Secretary for School Education and SCERT Nagaland Menukhol John requested the tribal Hohos to keep their respective morungs clean and also maintain its originality. Seeking support and cooperation from all the tribal Hohos, Nagaland Tourism Director Akhale Vizol said all efforts will be made for the success of the festival.
She urged the tribal Hohos to renovate their respective morungs at the earliest as desired by the Chief Minister. Akhale also urged upon the the tribal Hohos to use traditional music instead of western music in their respective morungs.
