SHILLONG: After the West Khasi Hills district administration set a precedent by using waste polythene to build a stretch of a rural road, the state government is weighing similar initiatives using the garbage disposal management system in every locality.
Speaking in the Assembly during the budget session, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the system has been successfully implemented in Kerala where compost is being used by farmers and companies are buying plastic waste for construction of roads.
According to Sangma, as many as 460 kg of plastic waste was used for the construction of the 1 km road in West Khasi Hills.
According to officials, the road is more durable than the usual ones.
Also, the expenditure is less compared to convention methods.
The Clean Kerala Company, an organisation formed under the state local self-help group, collects plastic waste from residents and municipality authorities for road construction.
Earlier, several Opposition MLAs including Charles Pyngrope (Nongthymmai), had raised the issue calling for banning of at least certain types of plastic bags in the city to fight pollution.
In 2016, the Centre banned production of plastic bags below 50 microns as thinner bags are a threat to the environment because of its non-disposability.
Asserting that the mindset of people regarding use of plastic has to change, the chief minister said the city should focus on cleanliness or else “the state will become a laughing stock in front of delegates who will visit the state for the National Games 2022”.
