STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The Government on Tuesday constituted eight-members Special Task Force for elimination of single use plastic and addressing the issue of plastic pollution in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
As per order issued by Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, Commissioner/Secretary, General Administration Department, the Special Task Force will be headed by Chief Secretary, J&K as its Chairman while Administrative Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, J&K as Convener and Chairman, J&K Pollution Control Committee; Administrative Secretary, Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, J&K; Administrative Secretary, Industries & Commerce Department, J&K; Administrative Secretary, School Education Department, J&K; Administrative Secretary, Department of Forest, Ecology & Environment, J&K; Administrative Secretary, Higher Education Department, J&K as its Members.
The Task Force has been asked to prepare a comprehensive Action Plan for the implementation of provisions of Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016, and enforcement of the ban on single-use plastic items.
It has been also tasked to organize regular meetings of the State Level Monitoring Committee for purpose of monitoring of the implementation of the PWM Rules, 2016, and further strengthen Urban Local Bodies and Gram Panchayats for fulfilling responsibilities cost under the Rules.
The task force, asked to meet once in six months, has been also asked to leverage funds available under Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 for the development of waste management infrastructure to mitigate plastic pollution in J&K, according to an order.
Besides it has been mandated to effective strategies the implementation of SRO-231 dated March 26, 2019, for banning Single-Use Plastic (SUP) in J&K and also mobilize and build a strong public movement for the elimination of SUP with wider public participation including educational institutions (Schools, Colleges, Universities etc, NCC, NSS, Scouts, Youth Clubs, Eco clubs, Opinion Makers and Voluntary Organisations through Urban Local Bodies.
The committee has been also tasked to encourage and incentivize the industry involved in the manufacture of eco-friendly biodegradable substitutes for SUP.