From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, May 25: The state government has constituted a state-level special task force under the chairmanship of additional chief secretary to the government for preparing a comprehensive action plan for the elimination of single-use plastics (SUP) and implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and implementing it in mission mode.
The task force has 16 members, including the chairman. The meetings of the task force will be convened once in two months, as per an official government order issued on Tuesday.
The state government has designated the directorate of Municipal Administration as the nodal department for urban areas and the rural drinking water and sanitation department as the nodal department for rural areas.
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For effective implementation of the rules, district/city level task force are also being constituted in Bengaluru.
The task force under the chief commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) would be set up. For districts, the district level task force under deputy commissioners would be set up.
The term of reference for state-level task force includes assessment of plastic waste generated in the state with respect to collection, recycling and end of life disposal and identify gaps in plastic waste management (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) - policy, implementation, enforcement, infrastructure etc.
The state-level task force has been asked to suggest measures for strengthening policy, regulatory, institutional mechanisms/structures for the implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and phasing out of single-use plastic in the state; develop policies for supporting the adoption of alternatives to identified single-use plastic items prohibited under PWMR, 2016; take measures to strengthen ULBs/GPs for segregation, collection, storage, transportation, processing and disposal of plastic waste; and prepare a detailed road map for activities to build awareness and outreach among public on plastic waste management and reduction in the use of SUP items.