Do more to end plastic pollution: Div Com to Officers

Srinagar, Apr 22: The Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir Pandurang K Pole Friday appreciated the improvement in overall Safai in all Municipality including SMC and exhorted on the officers to do more to end plastic pollution.
The Div Com expressed these views while chairing a meeting here to review action taken report for Solid Waste Management and progress of different departments regarding putting a end to plastic waste.
On the occasion, the concerned officers I&C submitted that there is not any polythene producing unit in valley and the department has established twenty five plastic alternative manufacturing units during past two months besides 150 of such units are already existing.
Officers of RDD submitted that one thousand major villages have been identified for Solid waste management for which land shall be transferred very soon.
Officers of School & Colleges submitted that pits have been constructed on scientific basis for the biodegradable waste of institutions.
Meanwhile, Div Com passed several directions to the concerned officers to end the plastic pollution in the surroundings.
He asked I&C to establish two entrepreneur start up units in each district for production of alternative to polythene and plastic.
He directed concerned departments to start random checking of trucks from tunnel and confiscate the plastic imported in valley.
He further asked RDD to hold meeting of surpanches and panches of all the villages lying along side the roads to tourist destinations to clean those from waste material.
Also, he warned any urban local body for dumping garbage and waste on highways.
Regarding polluters have to pay policy, Div Com directed all the milk producing and selling companies to take back their plastic or face the action.
Meanwhile, he was informed that snow cap milk company has collected 43 thousand pouches of milk from consumers and provided the milk in return.
He also directed concerned to conduct market checking of wholesalers and retail sellers of plastic and impose fine on them.
He laid emphasis on cleaning of water bodies and impressed on Higher Secondary Schools and Colleges to adopt water bodies and employ students in the cleaning activities.
Further, Div Com also directed them to submit geo tagged photos of activities by eco clubs of school.
He issued directions to DCs for transfer of land to RDD for Solid waste management in villages.
Besides, he asked SMC to impose fine on the departments which lay construction material on roads and footpaths.
Div Com stressed on installation of signages regarding cleanliness and Swachch Bharat at important locations.
He asked SMC to scan the garbage and hold the companies liable for the waste produced by their products besides asked them to ensure bio medical waste is disposed by hospitals in a proper way and is not mixed with regular waste.