Plastic manufacturers to meet Kadam

Plastic manufacturers to meet Kadam

PUNE: The irked Pune Zilla Vyapari Sanghatana and plastic manufacturers of the State, whose units had been sealed two months ago, have decided to meet the Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam after the State government failed to take any steps to provide the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) mechanism and on the other hand, shut down the plastic units as well for implementing the EPR mechanism.

The association and manufacturers were also miffed after Kadam took a decision that the milk pouch manufacturing units will be reopened.

Secretary of Maharashtra Plastic Manufacturers Association Nikhil Rathi said, “Since October, the Environment Minister has been sealing plastic units all around the State for not having an EPR number. Now, the government has sealed all the units. Providing EPR mechanism is the State government’s responsibility. They are not providing it to us and shutting down all the units. Recently, the officials from the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) paid a surprise visit to some of the units and had cut the electrical wires as well. The employees of all the units are tired of waiting and 50 per cent of them have already shifted to their native places.”

“Two days back, Kadam had ordered to reopen the milk pouch units and has assured the representatives from dairy industry that they will chalk out an action plan after two months, but no steps have been taken for us (other plastic units). We have now decided that we will now talk directly to Kadam and chalk out a solution for the same,” Rathi added. 

President of the Association Sachin Nivangune said, “Now that all the plastic units have been shut, we are getting plastic bags from other states, including Karnataka, Goa and Daman. One shop approximately needs five kg of plastic per day and according to the demand, the plastic carry bags are imported to Maharashtra at two-fold cost. But yes, we are planning to meet the environment minister to chalk out a solution and reopen the plastic units in the State as it would be an easy affair for us and the employees of the units would also get their jobs back.”

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