Collector Dr Basavraju S. has asked officials to get formed women Self Help Groups (SHGs) who would prepare paper bags as an alternative for polythene carry bags now banned across the State. The Collector ordered to provide SHG members required training to manufacture paper bags with its sale to be made certain by the officials.
At the same time, Basavraju directed the civic bodies in the district to ensure strict ban on polythene carry bags in urban and as rural areas of the district. He directed that the paper carry bags to be used in place of polythene should not be brought from other districts and made within the district. The Collector was reviewing progress of various schemes being run in the district.
He also directed to ensure cent percent distribution of birth and death certificates. Get registered all masons with labour department under Mukhya Mantri Swavlamban Yojha, he told officers. For preparation of Working Plan under the Chhattisgarh State Skill Development Mission (CSSDM), he asked officers to submit information about departmental skill development works with district Industry office.
Under this scheme school/college drop outs unemployed youths are selected and given vocational training. The Collector ordered the District Education Officer to make list of students who would be sent for coaching of PMT/PET. Considering the upcoming Panchayat elections, he told officers to give proper training to the polling parties.
The Collector also directed the zonal officers to check facilities available in polling centre. It is pertinent to mention that the State Government has banned use of polythene carry bags from January 1. Since then, RMC officials are conducting inspections and collecting polythene bags from different parts of the city. 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 the 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.
In Novemver last year, the Chhattisgarh Government had decided to declare the State as ‘Plastic Carry Bag Free State’ and it came into effect from January 1, 2015. Urban Administration and Development Department has issued a draft notification and had then requested people to send their objections and suggestions within 30 days.
In the draft notification, Government had stated that plastic carry bag causes both short-term and long-term environmental damage and health hazards. “Article 48-A of the Constitution of India envisages that the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment. Hence, Chhattisgarh Government is of the firm view that plastic carry bags are detrimental to environment and also to the health of people as well as animals,’’ the Government statement added.
It is observed that that plastic carry bags causes blockages in drains and gutters, leading to serious environmental problem. In order to prevent such environmental hazards, the State Government has decided to declare Chhattisgarh State as a ‘plastic carry bag free area’. The State Government ordered that no person including shopkeepers, retailers, wholesalers, traders, vendors etc, should use plastic carry bags.
The State Government had further ordered that from January 1, 2015 onwards, no person shall manufacture, store, import, sell or transport plastic carry bag in Chhattisgarh. It has been clearly stated in the notification that the words 'plastic' and 'carry bags' shall have the same meaning as defined under the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011.
The containers used for packaging food material, milk and raising plants in the nurseries are not carry bags. State Government further directs that District Collector, Officers of Commercial-Tax Department, Regional Officers of the Chhattisgarh State Pollution Control Board, all Commissioners/Chief Municipal Officers of urban local bodies of the State will implement these directions and file complaints.