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Anti-plastics campaign from today

Friday, 05 February 2010 05:46 administrator
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The Hindu 05.02.2010

Anti-plastics campaign from today

Staff Reporter

Major role for elected representatives in local bodies

 

Over 1,000 SHG members, NGOs and students will be part of the event

Boards instructing public not to use thin plastics to come up in 50 locations

PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry government on Friday will kick-start a campaign against the use of thin plastics.

In the wake of the recent ban slapped on plastics of thickness of 50 microns and below, the government hopes to create awareness of hazards of thin plastics and alternatives to such plastics.

Home Minister E. Valsaraj, who also holds the Science, Technology and Environment portfolio, will be launching the campaign at an event to be hosted at Anthony Mahal, at 11 a.m.

He will be also announcing an action plan, officials of the Puducherry Pollution Control Committee (PPCC) said.

Over 1,000 members of self-help groups, non-government organisations (NGOs) and students, who would participate in the campaign, would be part of the event. Presidents and councillors of commune panchayats and municipalities are also expected to attend.

“The campaign will be sustained one, lasting up to six months after it is launched on Friday,” said Special Secretary to Government and Chairman of PPCC G. Theva Neethi Dhas said.

The campaign would involve end users, manufacturers, traders and all stakeholders, not only in Puducherry but also Mahe, Yanam and Karaikal.

Elected representatives in the local bodies would also play a major role, Mr. Dhas said.

Officials said that National Green Corps from many schools across the Union Territory would be involved in the programme.

Notice boards instructing the public not to use thin plastics would be put up in around 50 locations.

The boards would also carry information on penalty likely to be imposed if the ban is violated. Pamphlets would also be distributed.

Samples of banned plastic items and viable alternatives would be on display at the event. Cloth bags would also be distributed to all participants, officials said.

Last Updated on Friday, 05 February 2010 05:48
 

New plastic ban norms

Thursday, 04 February 2010 05:55 administrator
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The Hindu 04.02.2010

New plastic ban norms

Special Correspondent

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana Government has banned use of polythene bags made of virgin or recycled plastic with a thickness of less than 40 microns and size less than 12 x 18 inches, State Forests Minister Ajay Singh Yadav announced on Wednesday.

He disclosed that earlier the thickness and size of banned plastic bags was less than 30 microns and 8 x 12 inches respectively.

He said use of all types of plastic articles such as carry bags (irrespective of thickness and size), plates, cups, tumblers, spoons, forks and straw had been banned within the municipal limits of Thanesar/Kurukshetra and Pehowa towns, precincts of Mansa Devi Temple, Panchkula and Sheetla Mata Temple, Gurgaon. The ban is also applicable to public parks, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks of Haryana and Morni as these have “special historical, religious and ecological significance”.

Last Updated on Thursday, 04 February 2010 05:58
 

Garbage to green

Wednesday, 03 February 2010 09:02 administrator
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The New Indian Express 03.02.2010

Garbage to green

Sohini Chakravorty


What is common between scraps of plastic, a used bottle, few soda cans, bits and pieces of vinyl plastic? A creative and a unique collage with a bird made out of garbage plastic strands, a snake out of a gunnysack and the blue expanse in the form of vinyl plastic representing the pride of Hyderabad - the Hussain Sagar Lake.

Celebrating World Wetlands Day Sukuki Exnora, an NGO involved in solid waste management, along with HMDA-HCIP (Hussain Sagar Catchment Area Improvement Project) organised a collage made out of solid waste collected from the lake and sent a strong message of the need to maintain a clean and green Hyderabad and pollution-free Hussain Sagar Lake. Sunil Kumar Gupta, IFS, Environment and Project Manager (HCIP) and Amala Akkineni, founder Blue Cross and environment activist.

“The people of Hyderabad should be made aware so that all of them make an effort to keep the Hussain Sagar clean. Solid waste disposal should be encouraged at the household level and then only can it make a difference,” said Amala who enthusiastically participated along with the students who made artwork out of solid waste.

The project, undertaken by SCIP and supported by JICA, Japan, has implemented various infrastructural facilities to prevent effluents from damaging Hussain Sagar Lake, including environment awareness, solid waste management and community toilets.

“We have implemented new ways of sewage treatment so that water is not drained in the lake and the garbage in the kale water is drained out of water. Lake is a lot cleaner and the number of birds around it is a proof to that. We hope to cleanse the lake by 2012 so that we can introduce new water sports and develop the area,” said Sunil Kumar Gupta.

“The biggest challenge is segregation of solid waste and to create waste-free zones in every colony in the city to prevent new dumping zones. The objective of this project is to educate people on recycling and stop indiscriminate disposal,” Major Shiva Kiran, Sukuki Exnora said. Sukuki, along with five other NGOs, have started their awareness program in 22 colonies near the lake area and promote better methods of solid waste.

“We should respect human dignity and not expect people to clean and segregate our garbage, every household has a major role to play in this,” Amala Akkineni said on the need to solid waste segregation.

Serene blue waters are being exploited by man-made waste and it is up to the people of Hyderabad to protect its beauty and water from becoming a dying pride and extend their cooperation for a healthy and clean Hyderabad.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 03 February 2010 09:05
 
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