Public hearing on plastic ban held in Siliguri

Mayor Asok Bhattacharya at the hearing in Siliguri
on Friday.Picture by Kundan Yolmo

TT, Siliguri, July 3: A public hearing on plastic was organised by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board at Dinabandhu Mancha here today.

The event was held to discuss the proposed ban on storage, use and sale of plastic and processing of plastic carry bags and plastic films in Siliguri subdivision and the civic area.

"Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will visit soon with a vision to make the area clean and green. We are trying to make the town free from plastic bags. We had received an order from the National Green Tribunal on September 29 last year, instructing us to organise a public hearing. As part of the exercise, the hearing was organised today to get a view of residents and stakeholders," minister Gautam Deb said.

Mayor Asok Bhattacharya who attended the meet, said: "I have requested the residents to refrain from using plastic bags. We, on behalf of the civic body, will take all necessary steps to stop its use."

Siliguri Municipal Corporation commissioner S.W. Bhutia, who presided over the meeting, welcomed suggestions submitted by 35 people. "We will prepare a comprehensive report and send it to the state environment department through the board (PCB). We will then wait for further instructions," Bhutia said.