Illegal plastic units operate near lakes
While there are 359 plastic units on the inventory of AP Pollution Control Board, a mere 194 have official registration by the Board. Only these 194 units are being regularly monitored by PCB for compliance with the Plastics Manufac-ture, Sale and Usage Rules. The remaining 165 plastic units are operating illegally. W.G. Prasanna Kumar, social scientist, PCB, said that most of these units that are operating without registration are located around Osman-sagar and Himayatsagar lakes. “A significant chunk of these units are located in Katedan industrial cluster and have been responsible for pollution of these lakes,” said Mr Prasanna, adding that as per GO Ms. 111, there should be no plastic units within a 10 km radius of these two lakes.
Mr Prasanna said that as per Supreme Court orders, no amendment is likely to be done to the said GO. However, the units are operating while the state machinery is in no hurry to shut down or shift them from their current locations. “Many of these units are also recycling plastic waste in addition to producing plastic containers, carry bags, toys and electrical parts, all in gross violation of Plastic Waste (Manage-ment and Handling) Rules, 2011,” said an official.
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