NAGPUR: The
Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to use seized
plastic products to repair potholes and asphalt roads. As mixing 8% plastic in bitumen is permissible, the civic body will first use the seized quantity in its hot mix plant and later give it to others, may be Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) or the state’s public works department (PWD), if it has leftover stock.
In last nine days, NMC has seized 2,594kg plastic stock and Rs7.3 lakh fine from distributors, retailers, vendors and shopkeepers.
Two years ago, Union minister
Nitin Gadkari had allowed mixing 8% plastic in bitumen, following which National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and PWD started using plastic waste to resurface the roads.
An NMC official said that the civic body would adopt various other scientific methods to dispose off plastic if it gets more plastic than what is required at the hot mix plants.
On June 30, TOI had reported that NMC had signed an MoU with Parle Agro Private Limited to recycle PET bottles by installing reverse vending machines at malls. The machines would display videos on plastic pollution and its effects on environment.
Meanwhile, the Chamber of Associations of Maharashtra Industry and Trade (CAMIT) has expressed dissatisfaction over the state government’s four amendments related to the plastic ban.
CAMIT president Dipen Agrawal said the government’s amendments would be welcomed if packaging of perishable and non-perishable products is exempted. “Despite assurance by CM Devendra Fadnavis, the notification mentions only exemption to kirana stores. Plastic is required for packaging in other trades like automobiles, vegetables, fruits, food etc.”
“All parts of automobiles are packed in plastic and transported in cartons. It is essential to prevent damage. We are hopeful that the CM will soon issue another notification,” he said.
A delegation of CAMIT, led by Agrawal, had met CM Fadnavis on June 25 at Mumbai and explained in detail the problems being faced by traders due to the plastic ban. CAMIT has no issues with the remaining three amendments.
