DC Srinagar chairs meeting of District Level Plastic Waste Management Cell

Srinagar, Feb 22: A meeting of District Level Plastic Waste Management Cell was held Tuesday under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad at Meeting Hall of DC Office Complex, here.
The Cell has been set up to address the issue of plastic pollution by strictly implementing Plastic Waste Management Rules and eliminating single use plastic in the district
At the outset, threadbare discussions were held on the action plan of Plastic Waste Management and present status with regard to implementation of the Action Plan to eliminate the plastic waste management.
On the occasion, the DC emphasized on the concerned authorities for taking measures so that the plastic waste is properly and adequately collected, segregated and reprocessed. He also called for mass mobilization for elimination of single use plastic with wider public participation including educational institutions.
The DC asked the SMC authorities to launch an IEC campaign on a massive scale so that people are made aware about the ill effects of the use of polythene. He instructed them to set up material recovery facilities for proper segregation and removal of biodegradable waste. He also asked them to achieve 100 percent door to door collection of waste material including plastic. He also directed them to launch a massive drive against the violators selling and purchasing items in polythene bags.
The DC was informed that SMC is taking various measures to manage the plastic and solid waste by incorporating latest interventions like Waste Energy Processing Plant, Bio Remediation/Bio Mining, Garbage Transfer Stations and other latest interventions to ease solid waste management issues in a scientific manner.
The DC stressed the SMC to take measures for cleaning of bunds along the Jehlum and take strict action against the people throwing plastic and garbage into the River Jehlum.
He asked the Industries Department to encourage and incentivize the industries involved in the manufacture of eco-friendly biodegradable substitutes for single use plastic and polythene.
Similarly, the RDD Officers were directed to take all measures to make all panchayats of Srinagar district free of polythene to preserve the ecological balance.
The DC also stressed on better coordination among the line Departments so that desired results are achieved regarding elimination of single use plastic in the district.
Besides, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Dr Syed Haneef Balkhi, the meeting was attended by Chief Planning Officer, Assistant Commissioner Panchayats, Chief Sanitation Officer, SMC, Deputy Chief Education Officer, District Officer Pollution Control Board and Officers of Rural Development, Industries and other concerned Departments.