Page 66 - Plastics News June 2019

IN THE NEWS

Two squads to enforce polythene Maha Govt gives dairies 15-

ban in Bhubaneswar day time to submit milk pouch

buyback plan
or implementation of the ban of plastic and polythene
Fin the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) area, tate Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam gave milk
two enforcement squads were constituted by the BMC on Sdairies 15 days to submit a detailed plan to put in
Thursday June 6, comprising officials of the State Pollution place a mechanism for buyback of milk pouches from
Control Board, Commissionerate police, Forest Department consumers. Earlier Milk dairies were given time till
and BMC. The enforcement started from Friday June 7. February to submit the detailed buyback mechanism
The enforcement squads would have responsibilities plans, but they failed in doing so, according to
like seizure of officials. As per the plastic ban notification, issued
banned plastic/ by the Environment Department on March 23 in last
polyt h e n e year, milk dairies should use plastic bags not less than
materials, 50 microns in thickness for milk packaging. Besides,
imposition of they should print a buyback price of not less than Rs
penalty and 0.50 per pouch, to develop a buyback mechanism for
fines, issuing recycling these pouches. a meeting of an empowered
sh ow - c a u se committee, headed by Kadam, was held to review the
notices and pre implementation of the plastic ban across the state. The
announcement meeting was attended by Minister for Labour Sambhaji
on not to use Nilangekar-Patil, member secretary of Maharashtra
plastic/polythene. The squads would be assisted by two Pollution Control Board (MPCB) E Ravendiran and
policemen during the raids. The BMC in an official order officials from the MPCB. “Milk dairies were given time
asked the officials concerned to extend all support in till February to submit the detailed buyback mechanism
coordination with the squad members for an effective plans, but they failed in doing so. It has been more than
enforcement on polythene/plastics. As part of the three months but there is no response from them. So,
drive as seized 75 kg polytene from street vendors and they will be now given 15 days time to submit the plans
shopkeepers at Rajmahal area, Unit I Market, Master and no further extension will be given to them. After
Canteen Square, Rupali Square and CRP Square.However, 15 days, action will be taken against them as per the
no fine were collected from the defaulters raising norms for non-compliance,” Kadam said. Kadam said
questions on implementation of the ban in true spirit.The
Corporation, in October last year, had decided that street
vendors including sweets stalls, fast food joints, vegetable
vendors and meat shops violating the ban order would
attract `500 towards fine in the first instance, `1,000 in
the second instance and `2,000 in the third instance after
which they may also face criminal proceedings including
cancellation of trade licence. Allegations have been made
that the Corporation is only seizing polythene bags and that the MPCB would issue notices to the milk dairies in
not collecting fine to favour a few political parties in next few days asking them submit the plans within 15
the upcoming civic polls in the city. BMC Commissioner days. “To ensure the effective implementation of the
Samarth Verma, however, ruled out the allegations and plastic ban, the review meetings will be held revenue
said, “The Municipal Corporation, which restarted its division-wise in coming days,” he added.An official from
enforcement activities on plastic ban in the city, warned Environment Department said that they would check
vendors against the violation on the first day and will if any relief is granted by any court to the milk dairies
impose penalty from Saturday.”
before taking the final decision on the issue.

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