In connection with the banning of identified Single-Use Plastic items w.e.f. 1st July 2022, the Kohima District Task Force (DTF) for implementation of "Total Ban on all single-use plastic in Nagaland" held its meeting at DC's Conference Hall Kohima on 19th May 2022.
Chairing the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Kohima Gregory Thejawelie IAS has informed that the "Total Ban on all Single-Use Plastics in Nagaland" with identified single-use plastic items imposed by the State Government was issued in partial modification to the earlier orders. He said that the notification was issued to eradicate the menace of plastic and the serious environmental and ecological challenges posed by the rampant use of plastics.
Regarding the implementation, DC said that the DTF had carried out several initiatives in the form of sensitization, and awareness programme and also conducted surprise checking on banned plastic items in the district in 2019, however, he said that the programme could not be continued owing to the Covid pandemic. He noted that the conduct of the exercises had resulted in positive changes to a great extent.
The members discussed how best the implementation can be carried out in the rural and urban areas of the district and decided to focus on sensitization and make people aware of the ill effects of plastic waste and ensure curtailing the use of identified banned plastic items in the district.
The enforcement teams in the district headquarter, sub-divisional and village levels have been reminded to strictly monitor and function as squads for vigilance purpose and ensure the imposing of identified plastic ban items in any form once the implementation comes into effect.
The meeting also dwelled on certain issues regarding the implementation and decided to clarify the matters with the Government.
DC while stating that the task involves collective efforts of everyone, he urged all the concerned NGOs, Churches, and other stakeholders to take the initiative in disseminating the information in their respective jurisdictions and platforms to create awareness for the successful implementation of the exercise.
The meeting was attended by government officials, DDK, AYO, AWO, ASU, KVYO, KVSU, KCCI, Green Team Kohima, ACU, ACRCC, KBYF, and KTPF.
(DPRO, Kohima)
