Asks officers to act stringently against defaulters

KUPWARA: The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kupwara, Khalid Jahangir today asked all concerned officers to gear up for complete eradication of plastic waste in Kupwara district and said it is the time of action rather than verbal rhetoric.
The DC was addressing a meeting convened here today to discuss the measures for complete eradication of plastic waste from the district. He said throwing of plastic waste on road sides randomly is the primary reason for choking of drains in towns and markets, causing flood like situation during rainy season and creating inconvenience to the public.
Khalid Jahangir said, “There is a dire need to make shopkeepers and business establishments’ conscious of the ill effects of plastic waste, adding that till this consciousness awakens in the society, administration has to act strongly by adopting stringent laws under Pollution control”.
He asked ADC Kupwara to constitute a joint team of responsible officers from Police, Municipalities, Pollution Control Board and Revenue departments for proper implementation of Pollution Control Acts and penalize the identified defaulters. He asked them to start with towns, big establishments and markets.
The DC asked the District Pollution Control Board officer to prepare a well defined presentation in the next meeting, covering all spheres of pollution control measures and laws under which defaulters can be penalized.
He asked concerned Executive Officers of Municipal Committees to ensure that there should be no plastic waste seen alongside roads in their respective jurisdictions.
Earlier, the DC took detailed review of activities of various departments with regard to pollution control measures and received feedback from them. He asked Executive Officers of Municipal Committees of Handwara and Langate to plan execution of waste management. He directed EO Handwara to take possession of the identified land for solid waste management.
The DC asked CMO Kupwara, Chief Animal Husbandry officer, Medical Superintendents and District Sheep Husbandry Officer to strictly implement the bio medical waste management in the district. Likewise, other officers including Jal Shakti, Municipalities, Forest, Agriculture and allied sectors were directed to ensure proper implementation of waste management.
Pollution Control Board, Metrological, Forest departments were asked for execution of Air Quality Management Plan. District Mining Officer, I&FC, Fisheries and Forest departments were asked for implementation of Environment Conditions for regulation of sand mining.
Reviewing the supply of polythene and tetra packed milk, the DC directed Chief Animal Husbandry Officer to monitor the quality and quantity of milk marketed by various companies in the district. He was also asked to look into the disposal of the package waste of the milk.
The DC stressed to launch a vigorous awareness campaign to sensitize the people and other stakeholders including students with regard to disastrous effects of environment pollution for which Chief Education Officer, District Youth Coordinator, RDD, PRIs and NGOs were asked to play their pro active role and organize seminars, symposiums and debates and other activities.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Ghulam Nabi Bhat; ACP, DIO, DMO, PCB Officer, DSP DAR and other concerned officers attended the meeting.

KR Desk