The UP government on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment of banning polythene in the state. The government however sought to put the blame on neighboring states for illegally supplying polythene to traders of the state.
Replying to a question in the Assembly during Question Hour, Forest and Environment minister Dara Singh Chauhan said that the government was committed to strictly implementing the ban on polythene in the state. He blamed the previous Samajwadi Party government for doing nothing for enforcing the ban even as Allahabad High Court has given clear directions in January 2016.
The minister said that several polythene manufacturing units in the state have been closed down which were producing polythene less than 20 micron. He, however, claimed that suppliers from neighboring states were supplying the polythene to traders of UP in clear violation of the High Court order. Opposition members Shailendra Yadav, along with other members raised the issue alleging that cows and buffaloes were dying after consuming polythene.
Replying to another question, the Forest minister said that the Forest Survey of India was conducting survey in UP for ascertaining the quantum of required timber in the state. He said that after receiving the survey report, the government would issue licenses to fresh units of saw mills.
“The saw mills were banned in the state in compliance of orders from the Supreme Court. This led to the diversion of timber from UP to neighboring Haryana where large number of saw mills have been set up,’’ said the minister.
Replying to a question of BSP member Vinay Shanker Tiwari, the minister also said that the government was making all efforts to ensure that Ami river in Gorakhpur was pollution free along with other rivers of the state.
Replying to another question that government has taken adequate measures to provide relief to potato farmers, Chauhan, who also holds Horticulture minitry, said that UP was the largest producer of potato in the country. He said that a record 1.20 lakh MT of potato, which is 92 per cent of the total production last season, has been stored in the cold storage.
Irrigation minister Dharampal Singh replying to a question said that the government has filled up 30,625 ponds and lakes in the state till June 30. He said while 16,328 were filled through canals, the rest were filled by using tube wells.
Deputy Chief Minister and PWD minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said that 100 state highways would be widened to four-lane highway and proposals have been sent to the Centre for approval.