Page 66 - Plastics News February 2020

in the news

NGT to penalise civic bodies for Implementation of single-use

not adhering to waste mgmt rules plastic ban in Maharashtra

monitoring committee formed by the National Green nvironment minister Aaditya Thackeray has directed
A Tribunal (NGT) has decided to penalise civic bodies that Eall municipal corporations to ensure they are free of
fail to adhere the solid waste management rules by March single-use plastic by May 1, Maharashtra Day. Thackeray
31. “All executive officers (EOs) are directed to work with reviewed implementation of the ban in the state t the
integrity and dedication to make the city garbage-free and municipal corporation level via video-conferencing.
to ensure 100% door-to-door garbage collection. The civic He has asked all municipal corporations to share their
plans on how they will implement the ban and plug all
loopholes by February 20. "Single use plastic is more
dangerous to our environment. We need to curb its
use and pollution caused by it," he said. "The May 1
deadline is set so that alternative measures can be
made available by that time. We want to plan in detail
and then go in for its implementation," an official of
the state environment ministry said. He has asked civic
commissioners to involve students in this . this scheme
so that they can take the message back home with
them. "We have been told to undertake focused drives
bodies should also ensure construction of a boundary wall and initiate action against illegal plastic manufacturing
around dumping grounds and greenbelts in the vicinity. units, if they a re found operational," said Astik Kumar
Municipal councils violating solid waste management rules Pandey, Aurangabad municipal commissioner. He said
will be penalised form March 31,” said Justice Jasbir Singh it has been decided to replace bouquets with books
(retd), chairman of the NGT monitoring committee.He at government functions to reduce the use of plastic.
said EOs will have to submit a weekly report to deputy According to officials Thackeray is also focused
commissioners regarding the tasks performed under solid on keeping water bodies and public spaces such as
waste management. He also called for a complete ban on parks free of plastic and said a special drive should
the use of plastic bags and directed civic bodies to take be undertaken by corporations to keep them clean.
strict action against violators. The information of the Also, steps should be taken to avoid use of plastic
violators should be given to the Punjab Pollution Control in infrastructure projects. A state-wide meeting will
Board officials, he added. NGT monitoring committee
member and environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal
said the NGT will now monitor solid waste management
24X7 and officials will be made responsible for violations.
The committee also directed officials to install GPS
system on garbage collection vehicles. NGT monitoring
committee member and environmentalist Balbir Singh
Seechewal said the NGT will now monitor solid waste
management 24X7 and officials will be made responsible
for violations. Former chief secretary and member of the be held in March and an awareness campaign will be
NGT monitoring committee SC Aggarwal directed officials kicked off. According to officials With the climate
to check open dumping of garbage. The problem of solid change, pollution and global warming forever looming
waste management can be solved only if everyone opted over our heads, a serious step towards managing the
waste we generate has become a necessity. In order to
for proper methods of segregation. Jasbir Singh said it is bring a crackdown on single use plastic, Maharashtra
the fundamental duty of every citizen to segregate the government has set May 1 as the deadline to ban all
household waste so that it can be processed easily. single-use plastic items.

66
Plastics News Februar y 2020 68