Plastic ban specific notification in 2 weeks

| | BHUBANESWAR | in Bhubaneswar

Following the Governments’ decision to impose a ban on plastic use from October 2 as announced by the Chief Minister, the process has been expedited to bring out a specific notification in the matter.

A high-level meeting to this effect, held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi on Thursday, outlined various dimensions of the proposed notification.

Additional Chief Secretary, Forest and Environment Suresh Chandra Mohapatra was present.As per the Chief Minister’s announcement, it was decided to frame a specific notification banning use of plastic and harmful thermocol in the areas of the five Municipal Corporations and the heritage town of Puri.

Considering the present situation and various suggestions, the Chief Secretary directed to promote wider social acceptance against use of plastic through intensive IEC activities at each ULB level. Padhi also directed to make proper arrangement for collection of plastics and other polythene wastes in different localities of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Brahmapur, Rourkela, Sambalpur and Puri ULBs.

Development Commissioner Balakrishnan advised to enforce the provisions through concerted action, imposition of fines and initiating judicial proceedings.

It was decided to finalise the provisions of the notification within two weeks and hoist it in the public domain inviting suggestions and objections.

Padhi directed to incorporate all suggestions so received in preparing the final draft and place it for Government approval by mid-September.

Subjects like adverse impact of indiscriminate use and mismanagement of plastic waste, exiting plastic and harmful thermocol waste management, observations of High Court in the matter, exiting provisions for enforcement of the law, methods and strategies to enforce the proposed notifications, etc., were deliberated in the meeting.

The experts present opined to ban the use of carry bags and single-use plastics as well as thermocol in the first phase as these are rampantly used in the urban centres.