MPCB gears up to enforce ban on single use plastics

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 21: The Manipur Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has decided to enforce the ban on single use plastic which are below 120 micron and plastic water bottles which are below one litre after March 30.
Notably, the State Cabinet earlier adopted a resolution to ban these single use plastics but all types of single use plastics are sold and used all over the State.
Speaking to media persons at his Lamphelpat office today, MPCB Chairman Dr Usham Deben said that befitting legal action would be taken up if any one is found selling those single use plastics which have been already banned by the State Government.  
Saying that there would be no restriction on using plastics which are above 120 micron, Deben appealed to all concerned to stop selling single use plastics below 120 micron.
Strong actions would be initiated if anyone is found selling or using single use water bottles of 500 ml and 750 ml, he said.
Informing that the Government would soon initiate due process of banning all those units which are causing noise pollution, the MPCB Chairman said that the authorities would launch a crackdown on those youngsters/people who are modifying silencers of their bikes/two-wheelers to make them louder after March 30.
He said that all brick firms, stone crushers, rice mills, saw mills, hospitals, healthcare centres, hotels, motor garages and packaged drinking water factories should submit all relevant documents and certificates to the MPCB by March 30.
The MPCB would soon start verifying the No Objection Certificates which are in the possession of all such units, Deben said.
As per records available at the MPCB, there are 48 brick firms and 58 stone crushers in the State.
After opening water quality monitoring stations at 75 places, the MPCB has been regularly monitoring the quality of water including those of Loktak Lake and many rivers.  
The MPCB has also been working to monitor air quality after opening air quality monitoring stations at 12 places, he said.  
Each air quality monitoring station would require at least four staff. The Government is now working to recruit 36 air quality monitoring staff, Deben said.
Air quality monitoring stations would be opened at MPCB office, Lamphelpat; SDC offices of Sekmai and Lamsang; Porompat, Sawombung, Thoubal DC office complex, Kakching DC office complex, Bishnupur DC office complex, Churachandpur DC office complex, Moreh Forest office, Jiribam Forest office and Kangpokpi DC office complex, he said.
The MPCB is currently facing acute shortage of staff. Nonetheless, more than 70 staff would be recruited soon as regular appointments, Deben said.
He said that the MPCB alone can never control pollution in the State but it requires cooperation and support of all the people.
He also appealed to all the farmers to stop the practice of burning paddy stalks after harvesting paddy.
Burning forests in the hills has also been causing serious air pollution, he said.
The State’s climatic condition has changed drastically, the temperature is growing warmer while the cold period is growing shorter and the rainfall pattern is also becoming more and more erratic, the MPCB Chairman continued.
All the people need to shoulder due responsibility to control pollution and protect the environment, he said.
He also appealed to all the people to cultivate a healthy habit of disposing used plastics at proper places instead of throwing them into rivers, canals and littering them at public places like roads and markets.
Everyone needs to know that plastic bottles thrown into canals and rivers would reach Loktak Lake and they would severely affect the ecosystem of the lake, he added.