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Kottayam Municipality enforces ban on plastic items

Friday, 10 August 2012 06:08 administrator
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The Hindu  10.08.2012

Kottayam Municipality enforces ban on plastic items

Staff Reporter

Prohibition on the use of plastic bags thinner than 40 microns

The Kottayam Municipality has commenced operations to enforce the ban on plastic items. The authorities have launched a drive to inspect commercial establishments to make sure the ban is adhered to.

Though the municipality accepted the decision of the District Administration in June, a formal ban came into effect only on August 1.

It was later announced that raids would be conducted in all parts of the town to ensure the public abided by the directive. The raids conducted on Wednesday, near the Municipal office, revealed that only a few establishments complied with the ban.

A team led by Municipal standing committee (health) chairman V.K. Anil Kumar seized 18 kgs of plastic carry bags.According to Mr. Anil Kumar, the seized articles have been stored in a room of the Municipal office for the time being. He said that the State government has assured to provide a plastic shredder machine.

The seized plastic, after it is shredded, can be mixed with bitumen for tar-topping roads, said Mr. Kumar.As per the directive, establishments have been banned from using plastic bags thinner than 40 microns. An additional charge must be levied for those bags that are 40 microns or thicker.

Kottayam Municipal secretary P. Indrabalan Pillai said wholehearted efforts have been made to discourage the use of plastic items. To ensure the inspections are effective the Municipal authorities have constituted separate teams for various areas, viz. General zone (the locality around the Municipal office and erstwhile B zone of Nagampadom), A zone (Kanjikkuzhy), C zone (Market), D zone (Thiruvatthukal), Nattakom zone and Kumaranalloor zone. The inspections in each zone will be led by the Health Inspectors concerned. Two Junior Health Inspectors will be made available for each zone. Commercial establishments that violate the ban can be imposed fines ranging from Rs. 500 to Rs. 10,000 depending upon the nature of violation, authorities informed.

  • 18 kgs of plastic bags seized in raid
  • Violation of ban will invite fines up to Rs. 10,000
Last Updated on Saturday, 11 August 2012 04:30
 

PCMC fails to publish environment status report

Friday, 03 August 2012 06:47 administrator
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The Times of India   03.08.2012

PCMC fails to publish environment status report

PUNE: It has been three years since the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has published an environment status report (ESR).

The ESR helps citizens, environmental activists and urban planners get information about the development of the city and its impact on the environment. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been very particular about publishing the report, which is made public every year before the government stipulated deadline of July 31. However, the PCMC has failed to learn from its neighbour.

Since last three years, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB)

too has made efforts to improve the quality of ESRs. Importantly, the board has recommended that citizens and experts be involved in preparing the report. Besides, it wants the report to provide an action plan for tackling challenges ahead for the environment.

Sanjay Kulkarni, an executive engineer with the environment cell of PCMC, said, "Earlier the health department prepared the ESRs. But now the environment cell will do the job. A consultant has been appointed for preparing the reports for the next three years."

The health department did prepare the report for about three years. However, in the last two years, it has blamed other departments for not providing the required information. "The draft ESR for the next three years will be ready by May-June every year. The cost of preparing the report will be Rs 15 lakh every year. The consultant has been told that the ESR should not prove to be just a status report, but should give information about time-bound measures that need to be taken to improve the environment."

Vikas Patil, president of Paryavaran Sanvardhan Samiti said, "By not preparing the ESRs for the past three years, the PCMC has proved its negligence towards environment and its cause. The MPCB has the powers to take action against civic bodies that do not prepare the ESRs. So, it is time to act against the PCMC."

Patil said the PCMC had formed an environmental cell two years back. "Last year, the environmental cell assured us that it will prepare the ESR by July 2012. But it has not done so. If the environment cell has decided to get all its work done through contractors, then it is better to close down it down," said Patil.

Eom/siddharth gaikwad

Last Updated on Friday, 03 August 2012 06:49
 

Consumers may have to pay extra for carry bags

Friday, 03 August 2012 05:20 administrator
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The Hindu   03.08.2012

Consumers may have to pay extra for carry bags

Raviprasad Kamila

MCC’s draft bylaw fixes price depending on the size of the bag

The draft bylaw of the Mangalore City Corporation for plastic waste (management and handling) has banned retailers from giving plastic carry bags to customers in a bid to minimise usage of plastic.

The bylaw would come into effect only after the council of the civic body gives its approval. The corporation has drafted the bylaw following a decision taken at the State’s plastic waste advisory committee meeting in Bangalore earlier this year. The Secretary of the Urban Development Department had presided over the meeting.

The committee wanted all city corporations to enact a bylaw for including plastic waste management and handling rules 2011 and get it approved by their respective councils.

According to the draft, if any retailer gave carry bags free of cost or sold carry bags with thickness of less than 40 microns, the corporation would collect “pollution cost” from the trader. The corporation officials would slap a fine of Rs. 250 on the first-time offenders. If the crime was committed again, the trade licence would be cancelled.

According to the draft rules, manufacturers and stockists of unauthorised plastic carry bags are liable to face prosecution and other regulatory measures as conferred under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and rules made there under.

The bylaw proposes different prices for carry bags depending on the size. Details of prices (in brackets) fixed are: For carry bags of 9 x 12 inches and 9 x 15 inches (50 paise) ; 10 x 14 inches (75 paise); 13 x 16 inches (Rs. 1) ; 16 x 20 inches (Rs. 1.50); 17 x 25 (Rs. 2); 20 x 26 inches (Rs. 2.50); 24 x 30 (Rs. 3); 30 inches and above (Rs. 4).

The civic body has framed the bylaws under Section 423(29) of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, 1976. It would be enforcing the authority of the bylaws under Rule 4 (b) of The Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2011 and the Public Waste (Management and Handling) (Amendment)  Rules, framed under The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. According to the proceedings of the advisory committee held on February 24, 2012, the committee wanted all corporations to take steps to have separate waste collection points across the city with the help of plastic manufacturers association, rag pickers, and other stakeholders.

It wanted the Karnataka Plastic Association to work out modalities to purchase plastic waste from the waste plastic collection centres.

The committee wanted the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board to conduct raids with the help of city corporations and file cases against those who sold unauthorised carry bags under plastic waste management rules, 2011.

  • The bylaw would come into effect only after the approval of the council
  •  he civic body would slap a fine of Rs. 250 on the offenders
Last Updated on Friday, 03 August 2012 05:27
 
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