Kohima, August 17 (MExN): Kohima Smart City in collaboration with the Green Team Kohima held a consultation meeting with Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) under the ‘100 days Smart City Special Initiative Campaign on Sanitation’ in the chamber of the Administrator, KMC & CEO, KSCDL on August 16.
In pursuance to the government order on ban of plastic, the meeting was also called to discuss and draw out strategies for implementation and enforcement of the ban imposed by the government, stated a press release issued by Joint CEO, Kohima Smart City.
The Administrator & CEO Kovi Meyase stated that only a month remains for the ban to come into force and the whole issue of plastic ban will not be possible without the inputs and efforts of the KCCI. He pointed out the need to rope in all stakeholders for the implementation to be successful.
It was felt that the KCCI has a very important role in generating awareness as well as helping in enforcing the ban. The members deliberated on how best to go about in implementing and enforcing the ban on plastic and concluded that since the District Task Force headed by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kohima has been entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring and vigilance purpose, the task force may first be consulted. The members decided to put forward some suggestions and practical action plan for the perusal and incorporation by the task force.
Suggestions forwarded to the DC Kohima:
• Need to create mass awareness in which town announcements on vehicles with pictorial banners and PA systems in town areas and wards can be done as a countdown activity
• AIR and DDK can be requested to air and Broadcast Voice Ads/Short Clips on the ban in English, nagamese and local dialects
• Modalities to be put in place for companies and organisations who want to bring in alternative products in place of plastic
• Need to have a laboratory where alternative products can be tested to cross check and ascertain the authenticity of any certification
• Need to specify the items to be banned since the categories of materials to be banned in the order also cover an array of items which is used in food packaging and is a requisite under the FSSAI guidelines.
The members also agreed to give full co-operation to the District Task Force for the successful implementation of the ban in the interest of public health and environment preservation.
