PCB to monitor influx of polythene bags in the state

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Jan 20: From now on, only the ISO-certified, bio-plastic bags will be allowed in Jammu and Kashmir, to ensure that the inflow of fake bio-bags being pumped in by some private companies was stopped.


Sources said that though many companies are selling bio-degradable bags in the market, but most of them have not got approval from the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB).


The advantage of bio-plastic products is that these degrade in six months and are non-toxic in nature and completely mingle with its environment, even in water without leaving any toxic effect.
State High Court and government has banned the use of polythene in Jammu and Kashmir in 2008. As per expert views close to 70 percent of the garbage in the major cities consists of plastic bags which choke the drains. It is also found littered around the garbage dumps.


Most of the biopolymers are based on corn, wheat and potato starch and polycaprolactone, which are being used in many cities of the country to end the dependence on the polythene and plastic products.


Officials said that SPCB has decided to send samples of the bio-plastic bags to the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology for checking their quality before granting approval and banning the other which does not qualify the standard.


“It has become necessary to introduce bio degradable bags in the state as until an alternate for the polythene is not available the enforcement of total ban on its use can not prove effective. We cannot ignore the fact that these have become a major threat to environment”, said an official.


Sources said that “Few companies are selling biodegradable bags in the market, but none had sought permission from the board.


However earlier, the standards were not laid for their sale, but now the ISO certification has been made mandatory to safeguard environment.


It is pertinent to mention here that about two years back, state government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an Italian firm to set up North India’s first integrated Bio-Polythene plant, but the plastic lobby derailed the ambitious project.