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Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Centre suggests state to try ‘plastic-for-coupon' scheme
Patna: Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change on Friday suggested that Bihar explore a 'plastic-for-coupon or cash' initiative, drawing inspiration from a successful model implemented in Goa. The proposal was made by Tanmay Kumar, secretary of the ministry, while addressing the seminar on 'Ending plastic pollution: The road ahead', organised by the state's department of environment, forest and climate change. He proposed that the initiative could be executed through urban local bodies and commended the state's achievements under the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, which saw 4.42 crore saplings planted, exceeding the target by 42 lakh. Naresh Pal Gangwar, additional secretary of the ministry, highlighted the elimination of single-use plastics and detailed how plastic pollution is adversely affecting health. "The central govt has already banned those plastic products for which viable alternatives exist," he said, urging states to strengthen their systems through sustained collaborative efforts. In her address during the inaugural session, Harjot Kaur Bamhrah, additional chief secretary of state environment, forest and climate change department raised concerns over the environmental damage caused by single-use plastic. She said, "The state govt has taken decisive steps, including restrictions on the manufacture, storage, import, transport, sale and use of single-use plastics where alternatives are available. " She also stressed the need to eliminate non-essential and non-biodegradable plastics and affirmed the state's continued cooperation with the Centre on plastic management. Technical sessions during the seminar included presentations on 'Plastic waste management in urban local bodies in Bihar" by the department of urban development and housing, "Legal provisions for the elimination of single-use plastic" by the Bihar State Pollution Control Board and "Methods, challenges and opportunities adopted by Patna Municipal Corporation for plastic waste management." In his welcome address, Prabhat Kumar Gupta, principal chief conservator of forests (HoFF), highlighted the challenges posed by single-use plastic and the urgent need for collaborative action from all sectors. D K Shukla, chairman of the Bihar State Pollution Control Board, elaborated on the grave environmental consequences of plastic waste. He said establishing user responsibility was essential for its effective management. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Citing incomplete information, scientists urge APPCB to defer public hearing for TGV SRAAC expansion unit
Scientists for People, a non-profit organisation based out of Hyderabad, has expressed serious concern over the alleged omissions and violations in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report submitted by TGV SRAAC Limited for its proposed expansion of chlorine chemicals, PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), commonly known as Teflon) and chloromethanes manufacturing units in Gondiparla of Kurnool district. A group of scientists wrote a letter to A.P. Pollution Control Board Chairman P. Krishnaiah, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) Secretary Tanmay Kumar and Kurnool District Collector P. Ranjit Basha on Monday, requesting that the public hearing for the proposed expansion be rescheduled, because the EIA report had reportedly not provided comprehensive details about various greenhouse gas emissions. The EIA report, the organisation said, did not mention information regarding the alleged use and disposal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including CCl₄ and Trifluoroethane (R23), and inadequately assessed the risks associated with potential toxic release of chemicals such as chlorine. ''The report does not mention whether Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), a Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) listed under the Stockholm Convention, will be utilised in the proposed PTFE manufacturing process,'' the scientists wrote in the letter. They pointed out that PFOA was prohibited across the world due to its inherent toxicity, environmental persistence, and bioaccumulative properties. ''At a time when the National Green Tribunal is speaking about the widespread contamination of Indian water bodies by PFAS, including PFOA, the proposed PTFE unit in Kurnool district presents a risk of exacerbating the ongoing environmental crisis if PFOA or any other PFAS is used in their production process as a surfactant,'' the scientists said. The manufacturing of PTFE would result in the emission of R23 (HFC-23), a potent greenhouse gas with an exceptionally high Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 14,800 times that of CO₂. The report did not mention how the unit would address the issue of potential R23 emissions, they said, requesting that a moratorium be imposed on granting of environmental clearance to the unit until comprehensive details were provided.
