World environment day: Controlling plastics still a challenge in Nilgiris

Ooty: While all nations observe ‘World Environment Day’ on Tuesday with the theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution”, here in the hills of Nilgiris which was declared as a plastic-free district way back in 2002, controlling plastic pollution is still a challenge.

Greens plead for evolving a new mechanism to effectively combat and control the menace. Stating that plastic control in the hills has not been achieved over the decade, Mr. S. Jayachandran, joint secretary of the Tamil Nadu Green Movement, said that though appreciable results have been achieved in controlling throwaway carry bags below 50 micron thickness, other plastic and pet bottles continue to reign.

“It is a well established fact that plastic, especially non-biodegradable ones, hinders water percolation and chokes the channels. Cattle and wild animals too are affected when they eat throw away plastic. The need of the hour is to evolve new mechanisms to control plastic pollution. Though there is a private concern engaged in gathering and recycling plastic waste and pet bottles, their presence is hardly felt in the hills. It is time to establish plastic recycling units in all the wards and in rural belts to collect plastic waste regularly to recycle them. This will go a long way in tackling the menace of plastic,” Mr. Jayachandran suggested.

Mr. Rajeshkumar James, secretary of the Citizens’ Forum of Coonoor, advocated setting up exclusive plastic disposal squads in the Nilgiris to deal with plastic pollution.

“Though local bodies are entrusted with plastic control measures, their works so far have not yielded fruit. Plastic which sneaks into the hills along with tourists are more than plastic waste generated in the hills. Government, which has declared Nilgiris as a plastic-free district, should recruit conservancy staff exclusively to deal with plastic control measures,” he suggested.