Bihar Government Acknowledges Widespread Violations of Single-Use Plastic Ban
In a candid admission before the Bihar Legislative Council, State Cooperative Department Minister Pramod Kumar conceded on Thursday that the comprehensive ban on single-use plastic is being flouted across the state. He emphasized the necessity for a stricter legal framework to ensure better compliance and enforcement.
MLCs Highlight Alarming Violations and Propose Solutions
Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) expressed deep concerns over persistent violations of the ban, which prohibits the manufacture, storage, distribution, and sale of single-use plastic and thermocol. They called for robust enforcement mechanisms and enhanced public awareness campaigns to address the issue effectively.
MLC Saurabh Kumar, speaking on behalf of Maheshwar Singh, drew attention to a massive accumulation of plastic covering approximately 118 square kilometers in Pakridayal, East Champaran. He warned that this poses a severe threat to local farmers, as harmful chemicals from the plastic are leaching into the soil, potentially compromising agricultural productivity. "If there is a ban, then how such plastic are found everywhere," he questioned, urging the state government to take immediate action.
Kumar suggested a practical solution: utilizing this discarded plastic in the construction of rural roads under the Lohia Swachh Bihar Abhiyan. He noted that while nearly one lakh kilometers of roads have been built using plastic across India, Bihar has constructed only 10 kilometers, highlighting a significant opportunity for improvement.
MLC Sunil Kumar Singh pointed out the irony of continued single-use plastic usage in the Bihar Legislative Council canteen itself, underscoring the pervasive nature of the problem. Meanwhile, MLC Devesh Kumar stressed the importance of intensifying awareness drives and ensuring the availability of viable, eco-friendly alternatives to plastic to facilitate a smoother transition for the public.
Separate Concerns Over Ganga River Erosion in Mokama
In a distinct but equally pressing matter, MLC Neeraj Kumar raised alarms through a starred question regarding the shifting course and imbalanced flow of the Ganga River in the Mokama area. He reported that ghats previously situated about one kilometer away have now moved to within 100 meters, placing Mokama town at imminent risk of erosion.
To mitigate this threat, he demanded:
- A comprehensive ground-level technical survey
- A detailed river structure study or geo-technical risk assessment
- Official declaration of Mokama as an erosion-sensitive zone
- Installation of protective measures such as spurs, geo-bags, boulder pitching, and other river control structures
Government Response and Ongoing Initiatives
In response, Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary informed the council that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed with the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) in Roorkee. The NIH is currently conducting an in-depth study on the Ganga to better understand its dynamics and challenges.
Chaudhary observed that the river, which once flowed close to Patna, has significantly shifted its course over time. He affirmed the government's dual commitment to protecting urban areas like Mokama from erosion while ensuring the uninterrupted natural flow of the Ganga, balancing environmental conservation with public safety.
The discussions in the legislative council underscore Bihar's ongoing struggles with environmental compliance and natural resource management, calling for coordinated efforts between policy enforcement, public engagement, and scientific intervention.
