State govt going to ban plastic: officials

The State government is framing rules for enforcing the ban on use of plastic with a thickness of less than 50 microns.“We are in the process of issuing a GO as the State is gearing up to wage a war against use of plastic and erratic disposal of biodegradable waste,” AP Pollution Control Board Member-Secretary Vivek Yadav told reporters on the sidelines of a workshop, ‘Beat the Plastic Pollution,’ here on Thursday.

Producers of single usage plastic material below 50 microns would be charged if they failed to ensure proper disposal after use. Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh had already stipulated the extent of punishment for those defying the ban, Mr. Yadav said.

To a question, he said only 10% of the plastic used was being recycled in the State and called for more organisations to recycle plastic material.

Regional offices

Mr. Yadav said they would be opening regional offices of APPCB in Kadapa, Prakasam, Srikakulam and Anantapur districts. Existing manpower would be redeployed.He said they were getting ready to implement new rules being adopted for the Coastal Regulation Zone.

Asked to comment on industrial pollution in Visakhapatnam, he the pollution levels were being monitored on a regular basis. Problems with regard to building a new common effluent treatment plant for the units located in the AP Special Economic Zone, Atchutapuram were being sorted out. Now the units were discharging their effluents through the facility developed by Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City, Parawada.