Share
Our Correspondent
Imphal, June 4 (EMN): While the country is hosting 2018 World Environment Day on June 5 under the theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’, many plastic bottles and plastic wrappers continues to spoil the natural beauties including the Shirui Kashung peak, the natural habitat of Manipur’s state flower Shirui Lily.
The tourists visiting Shirui Kashung peak, 2835 m above sea level in Ukhrul district to witness the see the beauty of Shiurui Lily, expressed disappointment on seeing the plastic bottles and plastic wrappers being dumped in and around the peak.
Plastic wastes were detected all around the 4-5 dumping sites at the peak, said a visitor from Delhi. The concerned authorities as well as the responsible citizens should look into it to regulate the existing system considering the environment issues, the visitor said.
When contacted, the functionaries of the Shirui Youth Club (SYC) said that they have been cleaning the plastic waste at Shirui peak from time to time besides planting various types of trees in and around the peak.
After the recent five-day state level Shirui festival which concluded on May 28, the volunteers of SYC have collected two truckloads of plastic waste from the Shirui peak and disposed off at a dumping site near Ukhrul town with the support of Autonomous District Council authorities.
SYC volunteers will be joining a program on June 5 to decorate the nature with green under the initiative of Ihao at Shirui village.
Due to lack of awareness, people continue to use plastic polyethene bags and other plastic products from Myanmar and other parts in the state.
But no one questions the quality of plastic bottles and plastics bags which the people have been using comfortably in Manipur, an environmentalists felt.
In August, 2017, Manipur government had notified complete ban on the use of plastic carry bags of more than fifty microns in thickness which is similar to the thickness of hair with immediate effect. Any person found using such plastics bags will be punished under Section 15 Environment protection Act, 1966.
“There are Rules and Acts to control (plastic) pollution. But there is lack of regulation and control of quality of plastic polyethene bags etc,” Deputy Director Dr T Brajakumar of Environment Department said. “We need proper implementation of Environment Protection Act for a sustainable livelihood.”
It may be mentioned that ahead of the World Environment Day on June 5, the environment ministry has banned plastics in all protected areas around the country, thus declaring them “plastic free zones". Interestingly India will be the global host of 2018 World Environment Day under the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution”.
Reports said, every year the world uses 500 billion plastic bags and each year at least 8 million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans, the equivalent of a full garbage truck every minute.