Himachal Government to use discarded plastic to reinforce roads

SHIMLA /SRINAGAR - In an effort to discourage the use of hazardous plastic waste, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has announced a buy back scheme for such waste from urban local bodies for recycling for road surfacing purposes.

“We gather the material (plastic) and use this in road construction, as a result of which the consumption of bitumen would be much less and above all, the road gets a shining and lasting surface,” said Dhumal.

He further mentioned that the presence and use of plastic and polythene waste in daily life is a matter of great concern. He said 140 tonnes of polythene from different parts of the state would be used for constructiing roads in the state.

He said that the plastic waste would be bought for Rs three per kilogram and an additional rupee would be given as handling charges.

“Himachal would be the first state in Asia to start such a scheme,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Department of Geology and Geophysics of Kashmir University in Srinagar hosted a workshop to create awareness about the environment problems.

The symposium was attended by students and scholars.

“The main objective of the workshop was to create awareness about the environment problems we have. We had displayed the research conducted by the university departments related to environment and earth science. We had invited participants from the civil society and government academies too, so that we can together formulate strategies and action plans to tackle our environmental problems, which are of a great concern to the society,” said Professor. Shakeel Ramshoo, the head of the department. (ANI)