MPCB sets another deadline on plastic ban
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 21 2023:
After declaring complete ban on different types of single use plastics including half litre plastic water bottles from July 1 last year, Manipur Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has set yet another deadline to ban these types of plastics.
Addressing a press meet in this regard at the Board's Lamphelpat office, here on Tuesday, chairman Dr Usham De-ben said that it will relaunch drive against single use plastics including half litre water bottles from March 31 onwards.
Shops and vendors found selling or using these types of plasties after March 30 will be dealt with as per existing law.
He said that the board will also take up actions against use of modified silencer on vehicles and shops selling sound system without installing sound limitation device.
He also asked brick farms, vehicle repairing shops (workshops), hospitals, stone crusher units, saw mills and other types of factories to submit copies of no objection certification related to environment clearance.
The chairman further informed that the board is checking water quality by installing water quality monitoring units at 75 water bodies.
Out of the 12 new air quality monitoring stations to be installed, one will be reserved for upgrading the existing station at Kangla.
The board has a vacancy of 36 posts for the air quality monitoring stations and these posts will be filled up at the earliest under Central government.
Moreover, the board has a vacancy of 70 other posts in different categories which will be filled up at the earliest, he said.
Stating that the measures taken up by the government are for the safeguard of the society and its future, MLA Deben called for public cooperation in enforcing the bans.
MPCB member secretary Takhel-lambam Mangi and other officials also attended the press meet.
Mention may be made here that consequent to state cabinet's decision taken on May 18 last year to ban single use plastic in the state, the department of forest, environment & climate change framed 'Manipur Plastic Policy 2022' and issued notification in this regard on June 20.Manipur Pollution Control Board also issued a separate notification announcing enforcement of the ban from July 1 onwards.
As per the policy, anyone found using single use plastic could be awarded penalty _up to five years jail and Rs 1 lakh in fine under Section 15 of Environment Protection Act, 1986.In case, the violator could not pay the fine and continue to violate the restriction further, additional fine of Rs 5,000 per day will be imposed.
In the event of the guilty person failing to pay the fine within one year of conviction, the conviction period could be extended to seven years, the policy mentioned.
The policy also states that agencies and departments involved in road construction should use plastic waste approved by Indian Road Congress and relevant departments like works department and Rural Development & Panchayati Raj should issue orders for use of plastic in conformity with IRC guidelines.
Interestingly, the same board also declared ban on single use plastics from September 30 last year.
After every announcement, the board conducted drives against such banned plastics for a couple of weeks.
Shops and vendors also stopped selling or using such banned plastics for some times only to start restocking and selling the same after the board ceased the drives.
At present, the local market is flooded with these banned plastics including half litre water bottles without attracting any action from the government authority.
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