EARTH DAY: Dhumal govt starts second phase of say-no-to-polythene campaign,to buy back waste plastic bags from public and use them in construction of roads Adding a value to waste polythenes the biggest source of pollution in the hills and urban towns Himachal Pradesh launched an innovative scheme on Thursday to buy back plastic waste from the public for its use in the construction of roads. Himachal is the first state in the country,and perhaps in Asia,to start this scheme. The plastic will be bought at Rs 3 per kg. The local urban bodies and other government agencies,which will open collection centres shortly,will supply this plastic waste to the states public works department (PWD). The agency will get a handling charge of Rs 1 per kg. In Himachal Pradesh,there has been a complete ban on polythene bags since October 2,2009. The state has successfully introduced paper,jute and cotton bags as alternatives. Launching Phase II of Plastic Hatao,Paryavaran Bachao campaign here on Thursday,the Earth Day,Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal also proposed to ban throwing of empty gutka and tobacco pouches in the open. This is the biggest form of plastic pollution and the collection of this waste is impossible. The government will either brining in a suitable amendment in the law,or promulgate an ordinance to introduce on-the-spot penalty to deal with violators, he said. The CM added: I am directing all deputy commissioners and top enforcing agencies,including the police,to take stern action against those found throwing gutka pouches in the open. The gutka addicts will either have to give up the habit or pay fines. The second phase of campaign will have a series of new steps. The CM proposed a Green Journalism Award for media professionals writing on environmental issues and creating awareness on the polythene ban. Hours before the function,Dhumal inaugurated a new stretch of the road to Shimla airport,which has been built using waste polythenes collected during the first phase of the campaign. Over Rs 8.5 lakh awards were presented to best districts,urban local bodies and panchayats having done a good job in the collection of waste polythenes. Deputy commissioners R S Gupta (Kangra) and J S Rana (Shimla),who shared a prize of Rs 1 lakh,made a presentation on the strategy they had adopted to clean the hillsides of polythenes. Dhumal announced that the government would set up waste paper recycling units in every district headquarter to get the official wastepaper recycled and manufacture hand-made file covers and other stationery for use in the offices. There is already one waste paper recycling unit in the HP Secretariat. He asked the environment and pollution control department to print literature of dos and donts for tourists entering Himachal that should be distributed at the entry points. The chief minister said hotels and resorts would also be advised to adopt eco-friendly infrastructural facilities. There will be rating of such hotels and resort on environmental aspects. Earlier,Chief Secretary Asha Swarup said with the urbanisation and migration of population from rural areas was resulting in an increase in the quantum of garbage. For pollution-free environs * Govt to open collection centres to buy back waste plastic for Rs 3 per kg. Local urban bodies to get additional Rs 1 per kg as handling charge * Waste polythene bags to be used in the construction of roads as a policy decision * Waste paper recycling plant in every district * Hotels and resorts to get rating for environment and waste management * Dos and donts on environment,polythene use and waste collection to circulated in schools. Tourists,too,will get the circular at entry points of the state * Green Journalism award for media professionals
