Rural areas are set to take a step towards the target of plastic-free Odisha as the State Government has directed all District Collectors for effective management of plastic waste in rural areas under Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin).
“It is important that the State has an effective plan for the collection and disposal of plastic waste under Swachhata Hi Sewa-2019. While the districts have the flexibility to prepare the action plan as per the prevailing local situation and needs, you are requested to ensure that the plastic waste management (PWM) campaign is a success,” said a letter from the Panchayati Raj department to Collectors.
The Urban Local Body (ULB) or district central hub will be responsible for the collection of waste which is to be transported by the local Panchayati Raj institutions that will provide logistic support. The transportation of waste should be completed by October 7. After segregation of bio-degradable waste from non-recyclables, the solid waste needs to be transported to cement manufacturing units or used for road construction.
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has identified 90 collection points for lifting the waste which will be utilised in road construction, said Subash Das, Joint Secretary, Panchayati Raj. He said the department has undertaken a massive awareness drive and IEC activities from September 11 for collection and disposal of plastic and other solid waste from rural areas across.
He also informed that waste segregation centres have been created in each panchayat under MGNREGA, based on waste assessment and population of the GP. 153 GPs are already taking up this work as a priority and the remaining GPs will be covered before Mar 31, next year.