Odisha to reward people on returning plastic bottles

Bhubaneswar, Aug 9 (IANS) The Odisha government on Thursday said it would reward people on returning used bottles and OMFED polythene containers from October this year.

This was decided at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary A.P. Padhi at the state secretariat here on Thursday.

The government took the decision after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a ban on the use of plastic and polythene containers in the state from October 2.

"Special agents will be hired to collect plastic packets and water bottles from the users. General public will be made aware of the scheme through public notice by August end," Forest and Environment secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said.

He said people will be paid on returning the Orissa State Cooperative Milk Producers Federation (OMFED) packets and plastic bottles.

As per announcement of the Chief Minister, it was decided to frame specific notification banning use of plastic and harmful thermocol in five municipal corporations areas and heritage town of Puri.

Intensive Information Education and Communication activities will be at each ULBs level to promote wider social acceptance of the ban on the use of plastic. 

Padhi said proper arrangements would be made for collection of plastics and other polythene wastes in different localities of Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela, Sambalpur and Puri town.

Development Commissioner R. Balakrishnan said the provisions would be enforced through concerted action, imposition of fines and initiation of judicial proceedings.

It was decided to finalise the provisions of the notification within two weeks and hoist it in public domain inviting suggestions and objections.

The Chief Secretary directed the officials to incorporate all suggestions received in preparing the final draft and place it for government approval by mid-September.