The Nagaland government is campaigning intensely against the use of Single-Use Plastics (SUP) in the state. As a part of the campaign, the first meeting of the Special Task Force (STF) on Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2021 and elimination of Single-Use Plastic (SUP) held in Kohima under the chairmanship of chief secretary of Nagaland J Alam deliberated on the measures to be taken up on the issue.
The Nagaland Pollution Control Board presented the draft Comprehensive Action Plan on elimination of SUP and discussions were made point-wise on the action plan.
Deliberating on survey and inspection, it was discussed that extensive survey for identified SUP waste generation was needed where the District Task Force will conduct extensive market survey for assessment of availability of SUPs in the market. Shops, vendors and commercial establishments should keep two separate bins for segregation of waste at source.
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In this regard, the chief secretary stressed on the need to update the waste collection system, whereby separate trucks or trucks with separate containers/chambers to be used for waste collection. The house decided that each town/ULB is to have its own action plan according to its need and situation.
On the issue of checking and inspection, the chief secretary reminded the house that intensifying inspection and monitoring of stockists and vendors of identified SUP should be carried out stringently however harassment to vendors should be avoided. He suggested that pre-information should be disseminated through the print and electronic medium. It was also decided that penalties on traders/vendors dealing with non-permitted plastics will be levied and collected on the spot.
For systematic identification and monitoring of SUPs, it was suggested and agreed upon that booklets along with samples of banned items shall be sent to all ULDs and DTFs for ready reference.
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The house agreed that due significance should be given to encourage the practice of carrying own bags while shopping and also promote the use of jute bags as practiced earlier. In this regard the suggestions were made to tie up with telecom service providers to serve reminders in the form of SMS, flash message etc. to encourage shoppers to carry their own bags while shopping.
The meeting agreed that tea stalls should use only stainless steel, glass, paper cups, earthen cups or any other permissible material other than plastic.
The chief secretary suggested that allotted selling points should be made at the entrance of markets for sale of plastic bags alternatives. The meeting decided that the Departments of Urban Development, Municipal Affairs and Rural Development should formulate its own working plan and bring forth the same for discussion and approval.
