A journey towards plastic-free society in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Responding to the call given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for achieving a plastic free India, Gram Panchayats and Mandal Parishads in the state launched fight against the use of single use plastic in rural areas on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary on Wednesday.

A campaign would be held to achieve a total ban on the plastic in the state. Awareness on the need to dump plastic use and plastic waste management activities would be taken to prepare the people for the total ban.

The Prime Minister has given a call for action against plastic use during his Independence Day speech. Following this, the Government of India has taken up 'Plastic Waste Management' as the main theme of this year's Swachhata Hi Seva (SHS- 2019) campaign with the support of the state government.

The campaign seeks to re-energize the Swachh Bharat Jan Andolan and accelerate plastic management in villages and municipalities at all public places including religious places, railway stations, hospitals, temples etc.

As part of the campaign preparation and awareness generation, programmes have been already held from September 11 to October 1. On Wednesday, Shramdan and Pledge against use of plastic have been taken up.

From October 3 to 27 recycling and effective disposal of collected plastic waste activities would be held. All Panchayat Raj Institutions have been told to identify a plastic waste aggregation centre in each Gram Panchayat (GP).

The plastic collected from the villages would be recycled or destroyed at them. They have to arrange transportation of collected waste logistics to block or district hubs. All Sarpanches would personally lead the awareness generation and plastic waste collection drive in their GPs.

As part of their effort to implement the plastic waste management programme the GPs have been installing plastic crushing units at the bus stations, railway stations, hospitals and other public places.

The people are advised to use these machines and to put the plastic bottles in the crushers. The crushed plastic would be transported to the recycling centres. They are also advised not to throw the plastic bottles after consumption of water and other fluids in the public places.Rallies and other awareness programmes would be organized. The people would be encouraged to use the handbags made of jute or cotton and avoid use of plastic carry bags.

Officials said that soon penalties would be imposed on the traders who use plastic covers. They said that the Government of India wants to achieve plastic free state within two or three months.