Leh, March 5: Advisor Ladakh, Umang Narula today convened a meeting at UT Secretariat to review waste management and ban on single use plastics.

The meeting discussed the menace of single use plastics and the need to make alternate products available in the market to the consumers. The Deputy Commissioners informed the meeting that regular inspections of the markets are being conducted and plastics bags are seized.

The Advisor asked the Secretaries to seek community participation in reducing the use of plastic products. He impressed upon mobilizing the Self-Help Groups to produce cloth, jute and paper carry bags as an alternative to plastic bags. He asked Secretary information to conduct awareness campaigns for educating and urging the public to use eco friendly products.

The meeting discussed the use of plastic waste in road construction. The Advisor asked Commissioner Secretary Housing to conduct capacity building programs for the concerned departments in plastic waste management and use of plastic waste in road constructions.

Deputy Commissioner Kargil informed the meeting that a waste segregation centre at village Minji is functional.  He informed the meeting that similar waste segregation centres are being established at various locations in Kargil district.

The Advisor asked the Deputy Commissioners to enforce the ban imposed on single use and throwaway plastics.                     

The meeting was attended by ADGP Ladakh, SS Khandare, Commissioner Secretary, A K Sahu, Secretary/Divisional Commissioner, Saugat Biswas, Secretary Information, Padma Angmo, Chief Conservator of Forest Ladakh, Preet Pal Singh, Deputy Commissioner Kargil, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse, Director Housing and Urban Local Bodies, Zahida Banoo and Director Health, Dr Phuntsog Angchuk. Deputy Commissioner Kargil, Santosh Sukhadeve also participated in the meeting through video conference from Kargil.