DMC collaborates with LIFE and NPCB for plastic roads

[caption id="attachment_156425" align="alignnone" width="550"] Seen in the picture is a portion of plastic road constructed inside the premises of DMC Office[/caption] Eastern Mirror Desk Dimapur, Dec. 27 : The Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) in collaboration with Living for Environment (LIFE) , a non-governmental organisation, and Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB) has got on board to construct roads in Dimapur using plastic wastes. This was announced by DMC Administrator Moa Sangtam to media persons on Dec. 22 at its office in Dimapur. Briefing media persons on this unique project, Sangtam said the idea behind this venture was to dispose of plastic wastes in a good way and that plastic roads are more durable and cost effective. “Whenever DMC constructs road we will use plastic waste which is more durable with water. If the state PWD (Roads & Bridges) department start implementing this idea, Nagaland will be disposing plastic waste in a good way” conveyed Sangtam. Also the DMC administrator apprised that the if Dimapur colonies can collaborate with the project that Dimapur can be free of plastic waste problems. He also announced that DMC will start the project in January 2018. Pollution control officials said that the NPCB first constructed plastic reinforced road in its office premises in 2009 which is still durable and has not deteriorated till today. Also he maintained that till date there were no potholes on the road constructed using plastic waste. The NPCB official said that the roads constructed by using plastics was called polymer bitumen road where 10% plastic and 90% bitumen are used and this kind of road faces less wear and tear and is water durable. “For 1 km stretch one ton of plastic is required and people’s contribution is required for this pilot project. It also reduces the use of bitumen and is a win-win situation”, remarked the NPCB official. The LIFE members pointed out that even though everyone is talking about Swachh Bharat people have no idea what to do with the plastic waste which is also polluting the environment. They therefore remarked that the plastic road project will be a novel initiative to free Dimapur of plastic waste while providing good roads. For this novel initiative a small portion of road inside DMC office premises was selected for plastic road experiment. The preparation is set mixing and melting of 10% shredded plastic with 90% bitumen after which the mixture is heated up to 160-70 degree, explained the NPCB official.