Polythene banned in tourist places in EKH
SHILLONG: Days after pictures of the ‘plastic tsunami in Umiam’ went viral on social media, the district administration admitted that there were some plastic debris in the lake and assured to take immediate action.
An official on Monday said some debris was found in the Dongrila area of Umiam Lake.
It was also informed that a meeting was convened at the East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner’s office on Monday and the matter of pollution, not only in the lake, but the entire city was discussed in detail.
Officials informed that they were working on a plan to address the issue of pollution in the entire district.
The meeting was attended by officials of the Shillong Municipal Board, Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, police and other agencies.
Meanwhile, the East Khasi Hills District Magistrate has promulgated an order under Section 144 CrPC, prohibiting the use of polythene with a thickness of less than 50 microns as one of the measures to curb the proliferation of plastic wastes in all tourist spots, locations and destinations in the district.
The prohibitory order was passed following reports that indiscriminate disposal of used plastic in various forms is rampantly taking place in tourist spots within the district resulting in an alarming accumulation of plastic wastes which is increasingly becoming an eyesore and a nuisance besides adversely reducing the scenic and aesthetic pristine beauty of popular tourist landmarks in the district.
This has a tendency to discourage incoming tourists and other visitors thereby affecting the economy, generation of revenue and other income opportunities for government and non-government agencies as well as other private groups and individuals who are dependent directly or indirectly on state tourism.
) Moreover, haphazard dumping of used plastic is in serious contravention of the various Environmental Protection Acts & Waste Management Rules of Government of India with special reference to Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.