In a significant move towards environmental sustainability, Chief Secretary of Nagaland, J Alam IAS, convened a high-level meeting with AHODs of various departments to discuss the elimination of single-use plastics (SUP) and the implementation of effective plastic waste management strategies in the state. The meeting took place at the CS Conference Hall, Secretariat, Kohima on 20 June.
Chairing the meeting, the Chief Secretary said that plastic waste has become a real menace and stressed on coming up with an effective action plan for the State. The meeting saw a consensus among members to completely ban plastic water bottles below one liter starting from August 1, 2024.
Drawing inspiration from Sikkim’s successful initiatives against single-use plastics, the members also decided to impose a complete ban on single-use carry bags, irrespective of microns.
Alam highlighted the recent cleanup of the Doyang reservoir, which had been overwhelmed with plastic waste. He praised the Disaster Management, District Administration, volunteers, and other agencies for their efforts.
However, he reminded the departments that this mission was only a temporary solution, emphasizing the need for long-term measures to tackle the systemic problem of plastic waste.
On the topic of awareness, the Chief Secretary urged departments to launch intensive media campaigns, seminars, and workshops to educate the public on the adverse effects of single-use plastics. He also called for thorough documentation of departmental activities through geo-tagging and regular updates on departmental websites with pictures and videos.
During the meeting, representatives from various departments, including Urban Development, Municipal Affairs, Rural Development, and the Pollution Control Board, shared their views and opinions, contributing to a robust discussion on the way forward.
