By TC News Desk
Agartala, 30th July 2024: the Tripura State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) organized a significant workshop focused on assessing and characterizing plastic waste in urban areas. The event, held in Agartala, saw participation from zonal officers, sanitary officers, and task force members of the Agartala Municipal Corporation.
Key dignitaries at the workshop included K. Sasikumar, Secretary of the Science, Technology, and Environment Department and Chairman of the TSPCB, Bishu Karmakar, Member Secretary of the board, and Mahendra Singh, Director of the Tripura Science Technology and Environment Department. The workshop centered on the detrimental effects of single-use plastics and discussed comprehensive measures for enforcing the ban on these materials.
In alignment with the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change’s complete prohibition on the production, import, storage, distribution, sale, and use of single-use plastics, the state government has reinforced these regulations through a formal notification. The banned items include plastic carrybags with a thickness of less than 120 microns, plastic sticks for earbuds and balloons, plastic flags, chocolate and ice cream sticks, thermocol decorations, disposable plates, cups, glasses, cutlery, and wrapping or packing films for invitation cards and cigarette packets. Violators of this ban are subject to monetary penalties as per the law.
A key highlight of the workshop was the introduction and detailed discussion of the SUP Compliance Monitoring Portal, an essential tool for implementing and monitoring the ban on single-use plastics. Officials also delivered a comprehensive presentation on the assessment and characterization of various types of plastic waste.
Participants received practical training on measuring the thickness of plastic carrybags, ensuring compliance with the regulations. The workshop concluded with a strong emphasis on the importance of collective efforts in reducing plastic pollution and safeguarding the environment.
