Page 68 - Plastics News May 2017

IN THE NEWS

Plastic roads to become a reality in Andhra Pradesh

aking a cue from success of plastic roads in Tamil It would cost Rs. 40 to Rs. 45 per kg of shredded plastic,
TNadu, the State government has drawn up plans to lay including transportation costs. More than savings, the new
plastic roads in every district on pilot basis. The Roads technology would be a solution, he said.
and Buildings (R&B) department will identify the roads in
rural areas to construct. Rs 1000 crore ‘Plastic Park’ to
The department is working on the
proposal and will take it up at be set up in Mangaluru
the earliest. The idea is to find a
solution to growing plastic waste nion Minister for Chemical and Fertilizer and
menace and also lay quality roads UParliament Affairs Ananth Kumar said that Mangaluru
in the State. The new procedure is will be the ideal location for setting up of the plastic
likely to bring down the expenditure park project, at an estimated cost of Rs 1000 crore
involved in construction of roads. which would provide employment opportunity for
The R&B department maintains 30000 people in the district. He was speaking after the
more than 50,000 km of roads, including, national inauguration of a workshop and launch of five generic
highways, state highways, major district roads and rural centers of 'Pradanamantri Bharathiya Janaaushadi
roads. Of this, the major district roads network is 10,629 Pariyojana' organized
km, while other roads 21,053.07 km. by 'Matrubhoomi
When contacted, Special Chief Secretary (R&B) Sumita Sauhardha Sahakari
Dawra said that the government was making earnest Niyamitha' at TV
efforts to reduce the plastic waste that was posing Ramana Pai hall He
environmental hazards. Use of plastic waste in laying urged MP Nalin Kumar
roads was a solution. to speak with MRPL,
It will be an answer to municipal solid waste management MCF and pressurise
apart from laying quality roads. The estimates and plans the State government to go ahead with the plastic
were being prepared. Very soon the plastic roads would park project and ensure its effective implementation.
be a reality, she said. The plastic road process involves Speaking on the 'Pradanamantri Bharathiya Janaaushadi
shredding of waste plastic to small pieces and mixing it Pariyojana' he said, "India is also a global power in
with bitumen. However, there are no firms that are into pharmaceuticals. Out of five medicines consumed
this kind of business in the State. Neighbouring Tamil Nadu globally two are produced from India. One lakh crore
and Karnataka are making strident steps in that direction. medicines are being exported to 216 countries from
The AP would have to purchase the shredded plastic from
TN or Karnataka for pilot projects. The government would India. Earlier there were 99 generic centers in the
encourage the village Sarpanches to segregate the plastic country but Narendra Modi government has started 1100
waste and take up shredding works. The government is centers in last one year. Further he added that MP Nalin
planning to purchase the shredded plastic from native Kumar Kateel has assured of opening 100 generic centers
sources with a view to reducing the waste. The Panchayat in Dakshina Kannada. Around 650 essential medicines for
Raj department had already laid a 27-km length plastic various diseases are available at a lower price at these
road in Guntur district on pilot basis. The PR department centres in line with the government’s aim to provide
officials found that the plastic roads were successful. As essential medicines at affordable prices for poor and
there are no firms that sell shredded plastic, the officials needy in the society. He also said that drug-eluting
purchased shredded plastic from units located in Tamil stent which cost more than Rs 100000 will be available
Nadu and on borders of AP. PR department Engineer-in- at Rs 30000 and the common stent for Rs 7500. Nalin
Chief Sriram Murthy said that cost would come down byRs. Kumar Kateel also requested to sanction the proposal
10,000 to Rs. 15,000 per km if plastic waste was used. For of Rs 5,500 crore under ‘one drop more crop’ project.
every 100 kg of bitumen, 8 kg of shredded plastic is used.

Plastics News | May 2017 68