Awareness campaign on plastic disposal to be initiated

New Delhi, Mar 23 (UNI) The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals has decided to begin a public awareness campaign through mass media on the use and disposal of plastics and a Plastic Development Council is being set up under the Industrial Development and Regulation Act for the purpose.

The Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers and Steel Ram Vilas Paswan said this at an interactive session with stakeholders in the petrochemical sector here.

The first such session of its kind had a specific focus on petrochemicals.

Mr Paswan said in order to attract more and more investments in the petrochemical sector, the Department of Chemicals is finalising the outlines for setting up mega chemical industrial estates and petroleum, chemical and petrochemical investment regions. The Minister emphasised the need for increasing public awareness about the utility of plastics and the need for an effective management of plastic wastes and their recycling.

He said the Government is to consider the feasibility of setting up a Technology Upgradation Fund for Petrochemicals. The Department will recommend to the Empowered Committee for lowering of VAT on plastic-processed articles from 12 per cent to 4 per cent.

The Department also favours lowering of central excise duty on polymers and plastic-processed articles from 16 to 8 per cent, he said.

The Secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ms Satwant Reddy underlined the need for growth in the petrochemical sector in an environmentally-sustainable manner.

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