Nov. 16: West Bengal Pollution Control
Board has asked members of Siliguri Plastic Federation and
its subsidiary units to submit in writing the reason why they
are seeking a revision of the blanket ban on plastic items
in the district. Members of the plastic lobby were told to
voice their views in the course of the pollution control board’s
first hearing session today. The session, presided over by
the pollution board’s senior law officer, was held to
hear depositions from the plastic manufacturing units that
were flouting norms. A special high court ruling in September
last year had imposed a blanket ban on plastic in Darjeeling
district.
Urban development and municipal affairs
minister Asok Bhattacharya, too, had asked the local plastic
lobby to write to the environment minister on problems faced
by them. The minister held a meeting with around 100 members
of the plastic federation in Siliguri yesterday. The plastic
lobby had decided to take up the matter with the minister
after the pollution board initiated raids and ordered the
closure of some plastic manufacturing units.
Senior law officer of the pollution board
Biswajit Mukherjee told The Telegraph: `We have heard the
problems faced by all seven plastic manufacturing units. Members
of the plastic lobby have been asked to offer their versions
on the ban. Once that is done, the matter will be referred
to the pollution board and environment department.`
The plastic lobby members told senior officials
of the pollution board that the government should review the
blanket ban since most of the plastic waste generated in Darjeeling
district could be recycled. Members of the lobby have assured
the officials that they would set up a couple of PET-bottle
crushing units in Siliguri.
Ratan Behani, the honorary general secretary
of the Siliguri Industries’ Association, said: `We have
requested PCB officials to review the ban on plastic in the
district and have pledged to set up around 36 state-of-the-art
recycling units across Darjeeling.`
“People associated with the plastic
products manufacturing units will be rendered jobless if the
ban is not lifted. We are prepared to cooperate with the SMC
on the matter. There is no harm in using plastic products
if the generated waste is properly collected, stored and recycled,”
he added.
In the course of the hearing, the pollution
control board slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 on a shop in Bidhan
Market which was found guilty of storing and selling plastic
products. |
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