MUZAFFARABAD: (Parliament Times) The AJK government has sought suggestions from trader’s community on how to waive with substandard polythene bags that are adversely damaging the atmosphere.
A seminar under the auspices of AJK environmental agency was held at Kashmir Institute of Management to discuss how to get rid of substandard materials like polythene bags here on the other day. It was attended by minister for environment Barrister Iftikhar Gillani, additional chief secretary development Dr. Syed Asif Hussain, secretary population welfare, director generation Institute of Protection of Environment Raja Muhammad Razzaq Khan, president trader’s association Shaukat Nawaz Mir, traders and members civil society.
Addressing on the occasion Gillani told the seminar that new environmental issues arose following setting up of Neelum-Jhelum hydropower generation in Muzaffarabad. He said problems like shortage of water in Neelum River, pollution and sewerage in the city were the result of turning the direction of river water to tunnel of power project.
He was of the view that if proper planning and attention had been paid in time to address environment hazards we would not have been facing these challenges. He asked the traders to give their suggestions if there should be complete ban on substandard polythene bags in AJK. Government intends to take every measure for protection of environment, he added. Gillani assured that environment protection authority would fully cooperate with the traders to counter this menace.
Addressing the seminar Dr. Syed Asif Hussain pointed out that polythene bags were not only dangerous to human health it adversely affects fauna and flora too. He said we would have to follow the rules of those countries wherein there is complete ban on production of polythene bags and their sale for protection of environment.
Trader leaders Shaukat Nawaz Mir, Abdur Razzak Khan, DG Kashmir Institute of Management Brig. Retd. Akhtar Hussasin Shah also addressed to the seminar.
Earlier institute of protection of environment Raja Muhamamd Razzak Khan briefed the participants of seminars on the law introduced in 2013 under which preparation and sale of polythene bags was banned in AJK. More than a dozen shopkeepers were arrested on sale of polythene bags in AJK under this law, he added. He said his institute did not have lab then as a result laboratory tests could not be provided to court of law against the defaulters. It led the court to dismiss cases against them. He told that institute of protection of environment has set up a lab for this purpose at a cost of 09 million rupees. Tests of polythene bags could be conducted in that lab now. The lab could be helpful to get rid of substandard bags. He said there is also need of creating awareness on hazards of using polythene bags to save the public from environment caused by them.