City Task Force to eliminate single use plastic
   Date :27-Apr-2022

City Task Force 
 
 
 
Staff Reporter
The Government of Maharashtra has constituted City Task Force for effective implementation on ground for elimination of single use plastic (SUP) and to prepare a comprehensive plan.
State Government formed the task force in 10 cities with million plus population, namely Municipal Corporation of Nagpur, Aurangabad, Kalyan-Dombivli, Greater Mumbai, Nashik, Navi Mumbai, Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune, Thane and Vasai-Virar.
Municipal Commissioner of the respective city will be the Chairman of the task force whereas Additional Municipal Commissioner (Municipal Solid Waste Management Department); Chief Engineer (Sewage); and Education Officer (Education Department) will be the members of the task force. Whereas, Sub-Regional Officer of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) will be the Member Convenor.
The meetings of the task force will be held once every month. It will prepare a comprehensive Action Plan for implementation  of Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021 and phasing out of SUP, with identified activities and timelines and synergising efforts and resources of various Department/Agencies at City level.
It will monitor the implementation of Maharashtra Plastic and Thermocol Products (Manufacture, Usage, Sale, Transport, Handling and Storage) Notification, 2018 issued on March 23, 2018 and subsequent amendments and Single Use Plastic Notification issued by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India issued on August 12, 2021.
The task force will help to strengthen policy, regulatory, institutional mechanisms/structures for the implementation of the rules and phasing out of SUP in the respective city, design appropriate management strategies and allow for allocation of financial resources for PWM including leveraging of funds from Swachh Bharat Mission.
The task force will conduct meetings with banned SUP alternative manufacturers and take measures to address challenges faced by them, and work for capacity enhancement.
The task force will take measures to strengthen Urban Local Bodies and Gram Panchayats for segregation, collection, storage, transportation, processing, and disposal of plastic waste. It will help to prepare a detailed road map for activities to build awareness and outreach among public on plastic waste management and reduction in the use of SUP items.