Bhubaneswar: After imposing ban on single-use plastic in all the urban local bodies (ULBs) of the state, the Odisha government is planning to extend the prohibition order across the state from October 2, 2020.
Talking to the media here, Environment director K Murugesan said that initially the ban on single-use plastic was imposed on six towns –Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur, Rourkela and Puri, with effect from October 2, 2018. From October 2 this year, certain plastic products have been banned in the remaining ULBs of the state, he said, adding that it will be extended to all gram panchayats from next October. Deliberations on this issue were held recently at a high-level meeting under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy.
The Panchayati Raj department has been directed to gradually restrict the production, sale and use of single-use plastics in rural areas under the plastic waste management rule. Steps have already been initiated by 153 GPs to ban plastic products in their respective areas, the director said. Instructions have been issued to all small industries not to produce the banned items. With a view to promote use of alternative materials, the state government has decided to engage women Self Help Groups (SHGs) to make paper and cloth-based carry bags.
This will provide livelihood support to these women, while ensuring protection of the environment, he said.
Under the new action plan, the state government will establish plastic waste processing centers in every district. Big districts like Ganjam will have two to three such centres.
Similarly, Murugesan said that the Public Works Department (PWD) has also been directed to use plastic wastes in road construction works. In this regard, the government will launch an extensive campaign to collect of single-use plastics for recycling.