PERSONA
Discourage Single use plastic and instead use jute/cloth carry bags, insists Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan
NEWSCOPE
RESEARCH
ISSUES
WELL-BEING
TRENDS
THEME
By Neeraj Bajpai
O
n a windy summer morning, a muster of peacocks, displaying colorful plumage like a flickering train, flip-flop atop huge green trees and scream at short intervals amid unfazed flocks of twittering birds at India’s Environment, Science and Technology Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan’s residence in the heart of the national capital.
Filing past the absorbing spectacle, a motely crowd of visitors, many of them holding handwritten petitions or bouquets gently enter a make shift hall to meet the lawmaker who is a Member of Parliament from the moon light crossing-Chandni Chowk-constituency in old Delhi. Much before, the agile Minister, in tearing hurry to pack up his day long tight schedule, makes an appearance and occupies a central chair to lend an ear to visitors – including some burqa clad women from his constituency, his staff ensures trays of piping hot tea cups and coffee mugs are served regularly. The staff introduces itself to the audience and lay out drill for whistle stop meetings with ear nose and throat–ENT specialist turned politician.
The moment, the medium height suave Minister enters the hall, commotion ensues but things settle down fast as professional photographers stand in attendance and race of selfie with Minister ends. He listens and assures for quick redressal of genuine and fair petitions. This is a frequent morning scene at his residence, may it be a sizzling summer or frigid winter. 14
Volume 3 | Issue 3 | July-September 2018
Retreating people stare at a hanging poster which reads –‘Democracy is not the governance by the majority, neither it’s of governance of the minority, but it is the governance of the common inspiration of general public’. The frame with party’s ideologue and leader Dr. Deen Dayal Upadhyay picture hangs innocuously from a bright green bamboo stick partition. Despite shoe string budget of time, the Minister spoke to InnoHEALTH Magazine and said India’s resolve to protect environment and ensure growth is non-negotiable and gave detailed answers to many queries including:
Q. It is not possible to do away with plastic altogether. How does the govt propose to reduce/ recycle plastic? With the growing population of the world and the lifestyle adopted, the amount of garbage production; including plastic waste, is also increasing. However, the accumulation of these products is leading to increased amount of plastic pollution around the country and the world. The Government of India has notified the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, which, inter-alia, regulate manufacture, sale, distribution and use plastic carry bags including carry bags of compostable plastic, and plastic sheets for packaging or wrapping commodities. The use of carry bags made from conventional plastic and less than 50 micron in thickness is prohibited. The use of plastic for packaging gutkha, tobacco and pan masala is prohibited. Based on the requirement and necessity, individual state can take decision
on banning of the plastic bags. Therefore, use of carry bags made of plastic is banned by seventeen States and three Union Territories.
Through the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, the generators of waste have been mandated to take steps to minimize generation of plastic waste, not to litter the plastic waste, ensure segregated storage of waste at source and handovers segregated waste to local body or agencies authorised by the local bodies. The rules have mandated the responsibilities of local bodies, gram panchayat, waste generators, retailers and street vendors to manage the plastic waste.The rules mandated the producers, importers and brand owners to work out modalities for waste collection system based on Extended Producer Responsibility.
Q. How 2017 was different in terms of air pollution in Delhi NCR? Due to extensive efforts by all stakeholders, there has been an improvement in overall air quality in 2017. As per AQI data, the number of good, satisfactory and moderate days in 2017 were 151 as compared to 109 in 2016. The number of poor, very poor and severe days was down to 180 in 2017 as compared to 214 in 2016. Q. What is your message for this World Environment Day to the global citizen? As you are aware the theme of World Environment Day is “Plastic Pollution”, I would like to urge all people to adopt sustainable lifestyle. India has a long history
