The Centre has suggested the States to extensively use plastic waste for construction of roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) across the country, a step that is likely to help tackle the growing menace of the hazardous product that threatens to choke the environment.
The Union Rural Development Ministry feels that such a cost-effective technology would also be particularly useful in the rain-fed and Naxal-hit areas in the country as plastic-made roads cannot be easily destroyed.
“Globally, about 180 million tones of plastic waste is being produced every year with 28 kg per capita, in India, it is 6.5 million tonnes and 6.5 Kg per capita. It would require at least 24.5 lakh tones of waste plastic if the target of construction of 24.5 lakh kms of rural roads as plastic tar roads is kept,” said a senior official from the RD Ministry.
Moreover, this would take care of the most deleterious health hazard of the item as is being done in Tamil Nadu, the official added.
“Though some states like Himachal Pradesh and Arunanchal Pradesh are picking the usage of the plastic waste for road construction, it is the Southern State which is in the forefront in using the product.
“Such an intervention would not only facilitate construction of cost effective good quality rural roads
but would also encourage use of green technologies to
protect environment and extend working season for construction of rural roads. Such technologies materials may be particularly prove to be quite effective in IAP districts and rain-fed areas,” said the official.
The official also noted that the states were bit hesitant using the cold mix technologies and fly ash and asserted that the State Governments to take up in big way usage of waste plastic, fly ash and cold mix technologies in their state.
Moreover, this would also take care of the anti-plastic campaign given that India ranks third in the world in the plastic consumption, the official said noting that around 33 crore people are dependent on plastic industry.
This would also save 24.5 lakh tons of bitumen worth Rs 12,250 crore to be used for construction of roads, the official pointed out.