Shops fined for selling SUPs

By Our Staff Reporter
Imphal, Apr 16 : Manipur Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, MAHUD, and City police conducted a joint drive against single-use plastic at Nagamapal, Masjid Road, and Dharamsala today.
The drive was led by Member Secretary of MPCB Dr W Roshan.
At least three shops which were found selling single use plastic  were fined Rs 2,000 each as a first warning during the drive.
Meanwhile, an awareness drive was held at Khwairamband Keithel, where officials used a loudspeaker to urge people to stop using single-use plastic.
They also seized single-use plastic bags and distributed biodegradable bags free of cost to market goers to encourage eco-friendly practices. Speaking to the media, W Roshan urged people to ditch single-use plastic and support the initiative to combat plastic pollution.
He also appealed to the shopkeepers to stop selling banned plastic items.
Saying that the drive against single-use plastic will continue,  Roshan warned that violators may face jail time.
Effecting the ban on single-use plastics, "a clean up programme cum awareness drive" was organised by the Eco-club and NSS Units of Oriental College in collaboration with the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change. Oriental College Principal Dr S Ranjit Singh launched the drive at the campus.
More than 150 participants including teachers, non-teaching staff and students participated in the drive.
Oriental College Teachers’ Association vice president M Lokendro Singh, Dean of Arts Dr G Ranita Devi, Dean of Science Wormila and Eco-club convenor Dr Rajkumar Imosana Singh participated in the drive.
Notably, a similar campaign was organised at Imphal College yesterday to make the campus a plastic free zone.
The campaign is expected to reach other institutions including Maharaj Bodhchandra College at Palace Gate, Modern College, Porompat and Kha-Manipur College, Kakching.