JMC, PCB at loggerheads over polythene disposal

Greater Kashmir

SYED AMJAD SHAH

JAMMU, July 20: While Jammu region grappling with menace of polythene, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and Pollution Control Board (PCB)-two prime agencies enforcing its ban-are on loggerheads over the disposal of seized polythene bags with quintals of confiscated polythene awaiting its proper disposal.

“We had contacted to the PCB officials for the disposal of 14 quintals polythene bags seized from parts of Jammu region under municipality limits. However, the PCB did not seem to be serious to dispose off the seized polythene bags. Instead, it obliquely denied its disposal,” a senior JMC official alleged refusing his identity.

The quintals of polythene and banned plastic bags were seized from different places falling in JMC limits, since the drive against its complete ban started in May 2009, sources said.

He said that: “We have now decided to take up the matter with the divisional commissioner Dr Pawan Kotwal concerning its disposal.” The JMC officials said that: “It is not possible to note down the details of those from whom polythene bags are being seized during the drive.”

Refuting the allegations of the JMC, former PCB regional director said that: “PBC received a letter from the municipality over a month ago, in which, they (JMC) requested PCB to dispose off, the seized polythene bags.”

The then PCB regional director said, the PCB denied disposal of the seized polythene, on the account, that they (JMC) had not completed formalities before the disposal i.e. confiscation was not conducted by them before coming to the board.

“We have asked the JMC authorities through a letter to conduct confiscation of the seized polythene bags first and it would be disposed off,” he said, while saying that the confiscation is the legal term, under which, ownership right is ended or to give a chance under law, to those from whom, the prohibited polythene is seized to prove their innocence.

Giving example, he said the nearly 8 such cases of confiscation in district Kathua have come up and legal notices to them have been served giving them a chance to prove their innocence or end their ownership right over the seized material i.e. polythene bags.

As off now, they have not done it, he again alleged. “Municipal authorities should have confiscated the seized material with the help of district officers but they have not done it due to which, the seized bags could not be disposed off,” he said.

Notably, the driver against the polythene bags was started in the month of May, 2009 after the ban imposed in Jammu and Kashmir State by the high court. Despite that over two dozen factories are manufacturing the bags illegally across Jammu city in different parts. Nearly 80 percent of the polythene bags, after the ban in JK is being imported from Punjab illegally viz road.