Banned plastic plates used at Punjab Pollution Control Board's meeting in Mansa, citizens' group calls for action
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Bathinda: A state's pollution control board is supposed to be enforcing environment laws, but Punjab's board turned out to be the violator during a hearing earlier this week.
A pro-environment body, Public Action Committee (PAC), has raised concerns over banned single-use plastic (SUP) and thermocol plates being used to serve refreshments at a public hearing called by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) in Mansa district's Talwandi Aklia village on Monday.
PAC has demanded action against PPCB officials and the industrial unit, JSW Cement, which had called the hearing. "If no action is taken against the violations as per law, PAC will approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and other appropriate forums seeking redressal of legitimate grievances," said a joint statement issued by members of PAC.
PAC members Kapil Dev, Jaskirat Singh, Amandeep Singh Bains, Kuldeep Singh Khaira, and Gurpreet Singh Plaha have written to the regional officer, ministry of environment, forest & climate change; member secretary Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), deputy commissioner Mansa, and member secretary, PPCB.
They demanded punitive action and the imposition of an environmental penalty under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986, as well as notification/guidelines/rules notified by MoEF&CC, CPCB, and PPCB for environmental violations during the public hearing on Monday.
The public hearing was organised by PPCB in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification, 2006, and was chaired by the Mansa SDM Kala Ram Kansal.
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It was stated that PPCB has to take notice of violations, but violations happened in the presence of PPCB officials.
"On receiving information regarding the use of SUP and other banned material, we visited the refreshment shed and were shocked to witness gross violations of environmental laws – notably the use of banned Single Use Plastics such as plastic plates, plastic spoons, and thermocol plates – in direct contravention of applicable laws (EP Act 1986) and notifications and guidelines issued by MoEF&CC, CPCB, as well as PPCB.
These banned materials were used openly and without any objection or enforcement by PPCB officials present at the site," said Kapil Dev. "We have enclosed three images and one video clip taken with a GPS location app, as recorded at the impugned site, clearly depicting the open use of banned materials in the program scheduled by PPCB," he said, adding that at 2.15 PM, they formally raised this issue during the public hearing and demanded immediate action, including the issuance of a challan against the industrial unit.
Mansa SDM Kala Ram Kansil said that upon raising the issue, the PPCB officials changed the single-use plastic material. Further investigations are being made.
MSID: 122504150 413 |
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