The use of plastics in
Tirumala to be totally banned
Hyderabad|India|August'2010: The use of plastics in Tirumala will
be totally and strictly banned, irrespective of thickness, within a month.
Even the laddu prasadams which is now being supplied in plastic bags will
hereafter be supplied in cloth, paper or jute bags. The Chief Minister Dr.
K. Rosaiah directed the TTD to strictly adhere to these norms. The Chief
Minister today reviewed the activities of the A.P. Pollution Control Board
(APPCB) with Minister for Forests & Environment, Mr.P.Ramachandra Reddy
and top officials at Secretariat. Dr Rosaiah while expressing satisfaction
over the functioning of the A.P. Pollution Control Board asked it to be
more vigilant and act expeditiously.
It was informed at the meeting that all the TTD canteens have stopped
usage of plastic Tea cups and water glasses and are using paper cups and
glasses. TTD is also taking steps to replace the Laddu covers with
cloth/paper or jute bags. The TTD is taking steps to stop the usage of
plastic carry bags completely. It was also decided to ban plastics below
40 micron thickness all over the State within a month to prevent dangers
from pollution as is in vogue in the neighbouring States. At present
plastics of more than 20 microns thickness are being used in the State. It
was also decided to make the Secretariat and Tank Bund Plastic-free at the
earliest.
The Chief Minister was informed that the World Bank has approved the fully
aided Project of Capacity Building for Industrial Pollution Management in
the State. The components of the Project are Strengthening of
Environmental Institutions-- Building capacities for addressing Pollution
remediation -- costing Rs.17.89 crores and Investment in priority
remediation and Environmental improvements--Rehabilitation of the
abandoned contaminated sites - costing Rs.163.57Crores and the total
project cost is Rs.193.46 crores.
The Chief Minister was informed that the Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) by
HMDA at Noor Mohammed Kunta was commissioned in July 2009 and under
operation. For the land-fills of Municipal Solid Waste Management, 500 to
600 acres of land were identified at Tarluvada/ Krishnapuram by
Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation and orders in this regard will be
issued by the Collector. The officials explained that as regards the
Hussainsagar clean up project, 20 MLD STP on Balkapur nala (Necklace road)
is under upgradation and the work will be completed soon. 30 MLD STP on
Picket nala at Patigadda, is under progress and it will be completed by
December, 2010. The HMWS&SB is constructing interception and diversion
channel at Fatehnagar to accommodate full flow through the diversion
channel and the work is under progress. The work at STP, Attapur (51 MLD)
has started and is under progress. The Engineer-in-Chief, GHMC informed
that two rubber dams one opposite High Court and the other opposite
Salarjung Museum are completed. More Municipal Solid Waste Management
Projects will be sanctioned.
The APPCB is regularly monitoring the Common Bio-Medical Waste Treatment
Facilities (CBMWTFs every month for checking the treatment and disposal of
Bio Medical Waste (BMW). The Bio-Medical Waste is not getting mixed with
the Municipal Solid Waste. The EPTRI submitted report on 02-03-2010 on the
performance evaluation report on Common Bio-medical Waste treatment
Facilities (CBMWTFs). The CBMWTFs are being issued with necessary
directions to rectify their shortfalls.
The Chief Minister was informed that during 2009-10, 270 Industries were
inspected and Closure/Stop Production orders were issued to 54 industries
and directions to 216 industries. As far as public awareness campaign on
pollution is concerned, adequate publicity is being given in Press &
Electronic media for imparting awareness, publicity and other information.
Seminar and workshops are being conducted on various occasions like World
Environment day, Earth day etc.
Officials informed that there are 263 bulk drug and intermediate units in
the State – mainly located in Rangareddy, Medak, Nalgonda, Visakhapatnam
and Srikakulam districts. Three Common effluent treatment plants (CETPs)
are commissioned in Andhra Pradesh at Jeedimetla in 1987, Patancheru in
1994 and Visakhapatnam in 2007. CETP at Mallapur and Nacharam areas is
under construction. Two Treatment, Storage & Disposal Facilities (TSDF)
are located at Dindugal (RR Dist.) and Pharmacity (Visakhapatnam). The PCB
imposed a ban on Consent for establishment/ expansion of highly water
polluting industries in Medak, Rangareddy, Hyderabad & Mahaboobnagar
Districts in 1996.
The PCB Held several meetings with Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association (BDMA)
and worked out strategy of big units improving their own facilities for
treatment of effluent and developing cluster based infrastructure for
small units. Many big units commenced the process of upgrading their
treatment systems with latest technology and will be completed in 3 to 6
months. Big units have invested Rs.138.66 crores during 2009-10 for
improving pollution control systems. The PCB coordinated between the bulk
drug and cement companies to facilitate co-incineration of high calorific
hazardous waste in cement kilns for effective disposal of hazardous waste.
The Chief Minister also agreed to the proposal to recruit staff for
creation of 2 Task Forces at Kurnool & Visakhapatanam and for filling up
vacancies for strengthening of Regional Offices; Head Office and Central &
Zonal Laboratories. A Bio-Medical task force consisting of NGOs and Staff
of APPCB constituted to monitor the hospitals for compliance. Total Bio
Medical Waste generated in the State is TPD/ 5292 TPA. Total Bio Medical
Waste managed is 13 TPD/4745 TPA.
Minister for Environment and Forests, P Ramachandra Reddy, Chief
Secretary, S. V Prasad, Adviser to Chief Minister, P.K.Agarwal, Special
Chief Secretary, Environment and Forests, Janaki Kondapi,
Member-Secretary, A.P. Pollution Control Board, Madhusudan Rao, Secretary,
Finance, Sekhar Babu and other officials attended the meeting.
-August''
2010
