Latest news with #JharkhandStatePollutionControlBoard
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Only collective action can stop plastic use: CM
Ranchi: On the occasion of World Environment Day on Thursday, chief minister Hemant Soren appealed to the people of Jharkhand to put a stop to plastic usage. He emphasised the urgent need for collective action from all quarters to promote a sustainable and environment-friendly approach. Addressing the public during environment day programme besides inaugurating the Siromtoli flyover, the CM said that rampant plastic usage was a pressing concern, and efforts were being made to put an end to it. He appealed for a shift towards alternative options to plastic. "The time has come to change our habits and avoid using plastic. Weren't we surviving when plastic was not part of our lives? Plastic has caused such harm to our lives that we are finding solutions to stop using it. In the past, villagers used clothes to carry items, and that never caused any harm to the environment, unlike plastics," Soren added. He further said that implementing rules and regulations by the govt to ban plastic would never be successful until people from all quarters abstain from using it. The CM shed light on govt initiatives to save and preserve the environment, adding, "As you all can see, in today's event, all dignitaries were welcomed by gifting saplings, which was once dominated by the tradition of gifting bouquets. But our govt replaced that old tradition and adopted an environment-friendly approach." Expressing his concerns about rapid environmental degradation across the globe, he called for a collective effort to preserve Jharkhand's rich biodiversity. "Today, environmental degradation has reached a point that the animals, once inhabitants of the forest, are now venturing into human habitats. Jharkhand has been lucky in that regard to some extent, as 70% of the state has forest land. But we have to think about how we can preserve this asset," Soren said. It is worth mentioning that, despite a ban imposed by the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) back in 2022, single-use plastic bags continue to be used with impunity across the state. Speaking to TOI, JSPCB chairman Shasikar Samanta said that despite the ban, the authorities are yet to find any alternative to plastic bags. "Plastic manufacturing is banned in Jharkhand; however, in some places, many are sneakily producing it. Plastic bags are used by many meat sellers as there is no alternative option available in the market," he added. According to statistics revealed by Union Minister of road transport and highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari in February this year, over 1 lakh trees were felled in Jharkhand from 2020-21 FY to 2023-24 FY for various national highway projects.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
HC pulls up govt over missing biomedical waste mgmt report
Ranchi: The Jharkhand high court on Thursday pulled up the govt for being unable to produce the status reports on biomedical waste management that it had sought from the deputy commissioners (DCs) of all districts in February.A division bench of Chief Justice MS Ramachandra Rao and Justice Rajesh Shankar was hearing a public interest division (PIL) filed by the Jharkhand Human Rights Confederation on the improper disposal of biomedical court on Thursday expressed annoyance as the DCs have not taken heed of its February order. It told the DCs to furnish the required report by June 16, when the case would next be 2024, the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board had informed the court that biomedical waste treatment plants have been set up in five districts – Lohardaga, Ramgarh, Pakur, Dhanbad, and Adityapur in Seraikela Kharsawan. Another biomedical waste disposal plant is under construction in Deoghar and would be commissioned very soon, the board petitioner organisation had filed the petition in 2012 for compliance of the Environmental Protection Act , under which Biomedical Waste Disposal Management Rules have been formulated and ought to be implemented. In absence of the rules, biomedical waste generated from hospitals, clinics, nursing homes are required to be disposed of in a manner, which does not adversely affect the environment. But biomedical waste was littered in the open and rummaged by stray dogs, the petitioner added.
Hindustan Times
08-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
HC pulls up Jharkhand govt for not submitting reports on biomedical waste management
Ranchi, The Jharkhand High Court on Thursday pulled up the state government for not being able to produce reports on biomedical waste management sought from deputy commissioners of all districts. The court had, in February, ordered the deputy commissioners of all districts to inform about the status of biomedical waste disposal mechanisms in their respective areas. A division bench of Chief Justice MS Ramachandra Rao and Justice Rajesh Shankar was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Jharkhand Human Rights Confederation on the alleged improper disposal of biomedical waste in the state. The court, while hearing the petition, expressed its annoyance at the point that despite directions of the bench, the deputy commissioners of different districts have not paid heed to the previous order. The bench granted another opportunity to the deputy commissioners to furnish the required report about the disposal of biomedical waste in their districts. The case will again be heard on June 16. Earlier, it was informed by the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board that biomedical waste treatment plants have been set up in five districts- Lohardaga, Ramgarh, Pakur, Dhanbad and Seraikela Kharsawan. A biomedical waste disposal plant is under construction in Deoghar and will be commissioned very soon, the board informed. The organisation had filed the petition for compliance with the Environmental Protection Act, under which Biomedical Waste Disposal Management Rules have been formulated and ought to be implemented. Biomedical waste generated from hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes is required to be disposed of in a manner which does not adversely affect the environment. The petitioner had said that biomedical waste is littered in the open, which is rummaged by stray dogs. However, with the high court monitoring the PIL, the condition has improved, and incinerators have been put to use to dispose of biomedical waste.
