The State Government is likely to constitute task forces led by Regional Officers of the State Pollution Control Board and comprising members from municipal corporations, municipalities, health and sales tax officials for implementation of provisions of the Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 to that restrict use of polythene in the State.
It is so convinced from a letter sent to the Housing and Urban Development Principal Secretary-cum-SPCB Member Secretary by the Environment Special Secretary-cum-Director Dr K Murugesan. Murguesan forwarded the suggestion of former MlA and Odisha Krushak Sangha president Bibhudendra Pratap Das and requested the SPCB Member Secretary to form Taskforce committees.
Das mentioned that State Government had issued Gazette Notification on January 20, 2004 to ban the use of polythene carry bags. For effective monitoring of implementation of provisions of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, a State level Advisory Committee had been constituted on February 2, 2017. Despite all these steps, plastic and polythene are being used still in the State, lamented Das.
He suggested formation Taskforce Committees under the chairmanship of Regional Officers of State Pollution Control Board with authorities of Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, Health and Sale Tax so that the mission of Swachha Bharat can be achieved.