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Accountability Of Plastic Manufactures || By Bhushan Parimoo || LIVE IMAGE |
‘Industrial
packing material is permissible, but definitely attracts provision of EPR.’ was
the response to the query from the State Pollution Control Board? Whether the
Polythene packing is permissible restored to for the transporting their
products for the consumers by the Soft drinks, drinking water manufactures
units in the state.
Associates of the Environment Awareness Forum across the
state were eager to know does such practice stand under the provisions of
pollution control laws. Who have been performing its social obligation, as a
watch dogs, without any fanfare, since 1980, engagingthe society aware of the
ill effects of the environment degradation being thrust upon against law.
At the
same time bring in to notice of the authorities concerned for corrective
measure as per law. An atmosphere of fearfulness has crept with distress
syndrome among the masses that authorities are mute spectator to invasion
ofMicro plastic whose disastrous effects on environ are no more a secret.
Scientists recorded a daily rate of 365 micro plastic particles per square
meter falling from the sky in the Pyrenees Mountains in southern France.
In
spite of the fact no obvious sources for the micro plastic within 100
kilometres, as per Natural Geosciences. 93% of the bottled water from 11
different brands showed micro plastic contamination per litre, researchers
found an average of 325 micro plastic particles. Compared to water from taps,
water from plastic bottles contained twice as much micro plastic.
Under
these circumstances the Polythene packing is allowed to be used by
the soft drinks,& drinking water units .Which has
become another source of the polythene littering all, over
can be safely be avoided. One can find it as high as in the Himalayan
range, lesser Himalaya, Pir Panjal range, Shivalik hills and terrai plains on
surface in the air in water bodies and sure in water too. Readers may be aware
plastics goes far beyond the human activities, wind, Water, Birds carry
them miles away to pollute the environ. Environment associates in sincerity
intend the Board established for the purposes to contain reckless use and throw
approach unhindered by the units. Associates desire these units should restore
to a biodegradable paper board packing.
Who cares and listens, it is as often
quote if hopes were horses as beggars would ride. Word EPR made this writer a
bit dizzy for a moment had heard at times while my late better half during her
medical profession would ask what the ESR measures is which relates to
how quickly red blood cells settle to the bottle of a test tube. As such it
appeared nothing to do to contain polythene menace. This made me to approach
doctorate in chemistry, has 37 years of teaching experience, and prompt was the
response that EPR is a study of the Iron complexes in Human Blood.
Again back
to zero exhaustive of the option thought better to seek help of a
scientist in the Board, which cleared the riddle that it is stands
for Extended Producer Responsibility a legislative strategy used by most
industrialized nations to promote reuse, recycling, and eco-friendly disposal
of polymer waste. Polymer waste is generated during manufacturing, distribution
and sale of a variety of products including consumer goods. The concerned in
the Board who promptly responded to the query must have taken for
granted that as an environmentalist should be familiar with the ESR
Rules of which he made mention.
This gives a rise to situation that such a term
when scientists in general are not in know of it how a commoner can be supposed
to know. ESR has been introduced in the country in 2916.It is
a standard deliverance practice to evolve for better results to be
achieved in the interest of public whenever any new legislation or law is
introduced . Has to be given wide publicity till the time results start pouring
in for which this legislation has been introduced for public good.
This
required two pronged strategy, the one formulate the strategy to bring in
the results with a greater efficiency with a single minded resolve
to check the menace ensure ever section of the rules is adhered to in letter
and spirits to the last line. And second to embark upon massive awareness campaign
, involving Opinion leaders, Gram Panchayats, NGOs, Students of all categories
right from School up to Universities, Women Brigades, every one matters in this
venture. But neither deliverance system seems to be in performance nor has any
awareness campaign been under taken.
Needless to add even after launching of
much lauded Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Swachh Bharat Mission is a nation-wide
campaign in India for the period 2013 to 2019 that aims to clean up the
streets, roads and infrastructure of India’s cities, towns, and rural areas. On
which trillions has said to be used diverted funds from other vital sectors to
this darling project of the Primie Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi much of
which went to media hype than in the cleaning venture. And result reveals that both
the capital cities of the state Srinagar the Paradise and Jammu the city of
Temples, cleanliness is the godliness, has jumped up on the ladder of
most polluted cities in the country. Besides it on the five years monitoring
about Air quality, these both of these Capital cities rank at 28 & 29
most polluted cities among 120.
Recent reports poured in Air pollution in the
country has reduced Age span by 2.7 % due to it. This writer has observed due
to pollution generated around us due to negligence of the authorities to avoid,
contain and reserves has resulted in diseased born new born ratio ever
increasing. Why authorities fail to deliver, and what makes to higher echelon
in the administrative set up to overlook, the spirit of transparency and
accountability is not hard to comprehend even to the lower strata impervious
strata of our society. It reminds to silence public outcry for unbridled
corruption in the country then Government constituted a Committee. headed by
N.N.Vohra then the Secretary Home Affairs to Government of India, Known as the
Vohra committee .
It was asked study the problem of the criminalization of
politics and of the nexus among criminals, politicians and bureaucrats in
India. He submitted the report in October 1993, It observed that The nexus
between the criminal gangs, police, bureaucracy and politicians The money power
is used to develop a network of muscle-power which is also used by the
politicians during elections.” . The Supreme Court, recommended in 1997 to
appointment of a high level committee to ensure in-depth investigation into the
findings of the N.N.Vohra Committee and to secure prosecution of those
involved. And nothing heard thereafter .And when he assumed charge of the
Governor, it was expected he shall take of care what he had found the nexus
during his investigation. Unfortunately it proved a catalytic agent for
corruption by adopting a mute spectator going around in the state brought to
his notice through media, representation and secret dossiers.
And new
dispensation the Governors rule of Sat Paul,Malik there after the
under the umbrella of Presidents rule which listens obliviously to the dictates
of the Centre. State feel betrayed the public trust in the deliverance system
to ensure a clean environ as enshrined in the constitution one of the
fundamental rights. Gone are the days when any one drink from any source
available, breath harmless air, munch on the unadulterated diets despite
limited resource but Nature had enough to provide.Justice Markandey Katju
has most aptly for corruption that “the corrupt should be hanged
from the lamp post as that was the only way of getting rid of corruption in the
country.” Extended producer’s responsibility” means the
responsibility of a producer for the environmentally sound management of the
product until the end of its life.
The concept was first formally introduced in
Sweden by Thomas Lindquist in a 1990 report to the Swedish Ministry of the
Environment. In subsequent reports prepared for the Ministry, the following
definition emerged: “[EPR] is an environmental protection strategy to reach an
environmental objective of a decreased total environmental impact of a product,
by making the manufacturer of the product responsible for the entire life-cycle
of the product and especially for the take-back, recycling and final disposal.
It had pronounced effect in the developed countries.
Whereas in this country
the Centre published the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules in 2016, a key
element of it was “extended producer responsibility” or EPR. The idea of EPR
was to make the polluter pay. So, all sellers of plastic packaging were
required to, within six months, install a system to collect their waste. It is
over the last one year, the CPCB has begun imposing EPR waste-recovery targets.
Plus, it has started listing Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs), to
whom manufacturers can outsource their obligations. These efforts have given a
fillip to recycling efforts.
Primary responsibility for collection of used
multi-layered plastic sachet or pouches or packaging is of Producers, Importers
and Brand Owners who introduce the products in the market. They need to
establish a system for collecting back the plastic waste generated due to their
products. Prescribed authority in this regard is the State Pollution Control
Board and Pollution,which owes an explanation to the society in general.
Because it is the State Pollution Control Board who has to
prepare and submit an annual report in Form VI to the CPCB on the implementation
of these rules by the 31st July, of every year.
Bushan Parimoo
(The writer is a Jammu based environmentalist and a regular contributor to this Website.)
(Feedback at: blparimoo@gmail.com)
