In the wake of soaring plastic based pollution levels, the Chhattisgarh Government has decided to form a district-level monitoring committees to keep a check on manufacturing, recycling and disposal of plastic based products.
On the occasion of the World Environment Day, Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand on Thursday issued circulars to all the district collectors asking them to ensure compliance to the provisions of Environment Conservation Act 1986.The Chief Secretary informed the district collectors that the monitoring committee shall consist of the officials of Urban Development Department, Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) and Commercial Tax Department.Stating the main provisions of Environment Conservation Act 1986 in the circular, Dhand said that plastic carry bags should be either of white colour or it should be as per the pigments approved by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
Recycled plastic should not be used in storage, transportation, distribution and packaging of food products, he said. Manufacturing, storage and distribution or sale of carry bags with thickness less than 40 microns have been banned. Plastic sachets should not be used for storage, packaging or sale of gutkha, tobacco or pan masala, Dhand saidThe Urban Administration Department should keep a check on manufacturing of carry bags with thickness less than 40 microns, recycling of plastic and use of sachets for gutkha tobacco etc, he said.
It is also mandatory to print the thickness of carry bag, name of manufacturer and details of registration number on each of the plastic carry bag. None of the retailers shall give away carry bags to customers free of cost. The minimum price of these bags shall be decided by the Municipal Council concerned.It is noteworthy that State Government has constituted State-level Advisory Committee for monitoring the implementation of provisions of notification released by Union Ministry of Forest and Environment New Delhi in year 2011, regarding proper disposal of waste plastic.
This committee has been formed by Urban Administration and Development Department. Principal Secretary of Urban Administration Department is the chairman of this committee. There is a provision of including one expert from each of Environment Department, Environment Conservation Department, local Urban Body, NGO, one from industrial area and one expert from education field, as members of the committee. Director of Urban Administration and Development Department is the member Secretary of this committee.