CAG criticises CMC, BMC over slaughterhouse mess

BHUBANESWAR: The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) have been criticised in a recently released report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) for failing to keep open slaughtering in check. The CAG report for the year 2021 noted that CMC hasn’t obtained the Consent for Establishment (CFE) and Consent for Operation (CFO) from the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) to make their abattoirs operational, and running a slaughterhouse without the approval of the SPCB means animals are being slaughtered illegally.

Apart from that, none of the slaughterhouses in the jurisdiction of both the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) has any working waste management or processing plants. The CAG report reads, “The liquid waste generated was allowed directly into the drainage system. The solid waste generated in the slaughterhouses and retail mutton, chicken, and fish shops is also mixed with solid waste and transported to landfill sites. The deep burial of carcasses and animals was not practiced by ULBs, instead they were disposed to the landfill.”

The report also mentions that BMC constructed a slaughterhouse at Gadakana in August 2017 for `7.02 crore, which was idle till January 2021. Similarly, the slaughterhouses constructed by CMC were in ruins due to non-maintenance. These dilapidated structures are creating environmental problems and disseminating foul smell in nearby areas.

Bihar cabinet decides to penalise violators of single use plastic ban

PATNA: The Bihar State Cabinet on, December 12, approved the Bihar Municipal Plastic Waste Management Amendment Model By-laws 2022 along with 11 other agendas. S Siddharth, Additional Chief Secretary, Cabinet Co-ordination Department, said that the ban also applies to the common people.

The Panchkula Municipal Corporation (PMC) on December 14, informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that no waste is being dumped at Jhuriwala dumping ground. PMC’s submission came in response to a plea against dumping waste in Jhuriwala, which is polluting the Ghaggar River. The civic body informed that “as on date, no dumping is taking place on the site in question.” There is only legacy waste at the site which was dumped in the past and is now being processed and taken away from the site.

Burning plastic in the open will incur a fine of `2,000 for the first time, `3,000 for the second time and `5,000 for the third time. Similarly, domestic users, if caught using single use plastic in the market, will be fined `100 for the first time, `200 on the second instance, and the third time violators have to pay `500.

Additionally, throwing plastic waste in public spaces, including parks, drains, archaeological sites etc, will attract a fine of `1,000 for the first time, `1,500 for the second time and `2,000 for the third time.

Apart from that, anyone organising a gathering or an event involving more than 100 people without informing the concerned urban local body (ULB) will be fined `1,500 for the first time, `2,000 for the second time, and `2,500 for the third time.

Law prohibits using decorative items made of polystyrene (thermocol), plastic cups, plates, spoons, forks, knives, straws, trays, stirrers, plastic films, invitation cards and plastic of thickness less than 100 microns or PVC banners in urban areas.