Plastic ban will be an uphill task

Plastic ban will be an uphill task
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Highlights

Even as the State government is contemplating to impose a complete ban on single use plastic, it appears implementation may be a herculean task, what with plastic units thriving in the city.

• Plastic scrap godowns supply raw material to plastic processing units

• Nexus between officials and operators of plastic manufacturing units alleged

• Illegal units not under PCB purview as they run operations without taking permissions from the Board

Rajendranagar: Even as the State government is contemplating to impose a complete ban on single use plastic, it appears implementation may be a herculean task, what with plastic units thriving in the city.

According to officials, they have not issued any permission to units operating in and around Shastripuram and hence they are liable to be prosecuted. However, the officers are not ready to take any action against them till complaints are lodged by the aggrieved people.

No action on plastic scrap godowns

Regular inspections are carried on at Tata Nagar, Katedan, Bandlaguda and other locations to check plastic manufacturing units, however the officials completely ignore the plastic scrap godowns from where scraps make it to the manufacturing units.

Illegal units not under PCB purview

Pollution Control Board is not able to act against polluting units as they have to get license from the Board and then only operate. However, the existing units operating illegally are beyond their purview, hence, the GHMC has to take action and shut the units.

"There is resistance from politicians as well as from corrupt officials during our efforts to shut illegal plastic units in Shastripuram. Few government officials working in this area for over five years were found hand in glove with the illegal plastic units.

Despite approaching judicial agencies, such as Human Rights Commission, Lok Ayokta and High Court, these illegal units continue with the processing and dumping of plastic waste," said M A H Asif, an activist who spearheaded the movement against plastic mayhem in Shastripuram.

"The nitty-gritty behind the thriving illegal units is because of the nexus between a few officials and operators of plastic units in Rajendranagar," said Mohammed Jahangir, Area Sabha Member, Hassan Nagar.

The officials will entertain your first call against illegal units but would avoid next time you made a call to ask them about the action taken by them," said Mohammed Mushtaq of Shastripuram.

17 types of plastic scrap being dumped

According to officials, 17 types of plastic scrap collected across the city are being dumped here in open areas across Shastripuram, Tatanagar and Katedan. The plastics are then segregated based on the colour and thickness to be recycled by units located at Bandlaguda.

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