MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) to(e): A statement is laid on the table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 208 FOR 04.08.2015 BY SHRI RAMEN DEKA, SHRI BAIJAYANT JAY PANDA REGARDING MANAGEMENT OF PLASTIC WASTE:
(a) and (b) As per available information, consumption of plastics in the country during 2013-14 was 11 million tons. The total quantum of plastic waste generated in the country from 60 major cities is estimated to be 3501 tonnes per day (TPD). The cities of Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmadabad and Hyderabad are generating maximum quantity of Plastic Waste.
(c) The environmental impact of plastic waste has been examined by various committees in recent years, such as the Task Force headed by Shri Dilip Biswas constituted to formulate a strategy and action program for management of plastic waste; Justice Ranganath Mishra Committee which examined environmental hazards posed by indiscriminate littering and disposal of plastic waste; R. C. Chopra Committee which assessed environmental hazards related to use of plastic bags in the city of Delhi; the study by the Central Pollution Control Board to assess the impact of plastics waste disposal on soil and water quality at Lucknow dumpsites and Expert Committee appointed by the Ministry to evolve a road map for management of waste in the country including plastic waste. The reports of these committees indicate that plastic bags, if not collected systematically, choke drainage system and create unhygienic conditions; animals ingest plastic bags with the discarded food leading to their illness and sometimes death; the plastic waste when disposed off on soil reduces recharging of ground water aquifers; recycled plastic bags and containers contaminate packaged food; plastic waste when disposed off in landfill sites causes leaching of metals and additives into the soil and ground water; and uncollected plastic waste litters the surroundings
(d)The National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Original Application No.15 of 2014 has recorded their view that there has to be restriction placed upon plastic multi-layered packaging / pet bottles, and provided an opportunity to the stakeholders to express their views. Accordingly, a Public Notice was issued in leading News Papers by the Ministry. Subsequently, on 15.07.2015, NGT has directed for filing a collective response by MoEF, CPCB, Director General of Health Services and Food Safety Standards of India in response to all the Written Submissions that have been furnished on behalf of the parties.
(e)The Government of India has notified Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011. These Rules prohibit manufacture, sale, stocking and use of plastic carry bags of less than 40 micron in thickness. The Rules also provide for plastic waste management system to be established by the municipal authorities for management of plastic waste in areas under their jurisdictions. Further, in order to make these Rules more effective, the Ministry has published draft Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2015 inviting public comments and suggestions. These rules propose to expand the jurisdiction of applicability; to increase the minimum thickness of poly bags to 50 microns; to bring in the responsibilities of producers and generators both; strengthen the role of the local govt., industrial units and others in effective management of plastic waste.
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