KURNOOL: Kurnool municipal corporation (KMC), aiming to help cement manufacturers to reduce their fuel costs, on Saturday launched an initiative whereby they will collect and dispose-off plastic waste separately.
As part of 'plastic hatao-Kurnool Bachao’ initiative to make the city plastic-free, KMC is officially helping the cement manufacturers in the district to source plastic waste from the civic body. This would reduce fuel cost of cement manufactures by at least 20 per cent, a significant gain, said a PCB official.
Mayor BY Ramaiah said that single-use plastics are being recklessly thrown around. He said that Rajvihar circle, C-camp, Konda Reddy fort, new bus stand, and ITC circle are earmarked for collecting plastic waste.
The PCB official, who sought anonymity, said that the Centre notified Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016...As per Rule ‘5(b)’ of PWM Rules, 2016,'local bodies shall encourage the use of plastic waste for road construction as per Indian Road Congress guidelines or energy recovery or waste to oil, etc. The standards and pollution control norms specified by the concerned prescribed authority for these technologies shall be complied with.'
MLAs Hafeez Khan and Katasani Rambhupal Reddy, KMC commissioner DK Balaji, and others attended the plastic hatao-Kurnool bachao program.
Meanwhile, layout regularisation drive was taken up by the Kurnool district administration posing problems with regard to conversion from agriculture to commercial use. With Kurnool being developed as the judicial capital, several villages within the capital region have seen improved real estate activity. Many agriculture farms were plotted and being sold as plots without obtaining revenue department’s permission.
RDO Hari Prasad said the special drive will continue till October 15 and hoped to raise handsome revenue by way of conversion charges. He said the revenue team is identifying real estate ventures that have not sought conversion certificates.
On protection of government lands from land sharks and encroachers, he said that efforts are being made to secure government lands from being occupied. He said Bethamcherla town comes under his jurisdiction and sanitizing of land records is being taken up there.
