Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 20: Government today accorded sanction to the constitution of a Special Task Force (STF) for elimination of Single Use Plastic (SUP) and addressing the issue of plastic pollution in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the order, Chief Secretary of J&K will be the chairman of the Special Task Force while Chairman J&K Pollution Control Committee and Administrative Secretaries of Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Industries & Commerce Department, School Education Department, Higher Education Department and Department of Forest, Ecology & Environment shall be members of the STF. Besides, Administrative Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Department, J&K will be the convener of the Task Force.
The STF will prepare a comprehensive Action Plan for implementation of provisions of Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 and enforcement of the ban on single use plastic items. The Special Task Force will organize regular meetings of State Level Monitoring Committee with the purpose of monitoring of implementation of the PWM Rules, 2016.
It will be responsible for strengthening Urban Local Bodies and Gram Panchayats for fulfilling responsibilities of cost under PWM Rules, 2016. It will leverage funds available under Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 for development of waste management infrastructure to mitigate plastic pollution in J&K.
The Special Task Force will be effectively strategize the implementation of SRO 231 dated 26-03-2019, for banning Single Use Plastic in J&K. It shall be responsible for mobilizing and building a strong public movement for elimination of SUP with wider public participation including educational institutions, Youth Clubs, Eco Clubs, NCC, NSS, Scouts cadets, Opinion Makers and voluntary organizations through Urban Local Bodies.
The STF will encourage and incentivize the industry involved in the manufacture of eco-friendly biodegradable substitutes for SUP. The Task Force shall meet at least once in six months.
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