With multipronged approach Action Plans are being implemented in the Eco-Clubsacross the State, which has resulted in more than 1000 Eco Clubs have made the School CampusPlastic Free. More and more schools are adopting such environment-friendly approach, thanks to massiveawareness campaign by Centre for Environmental Studies (CES), the State Nodal Agency forimplementing Eco-club Program of the State of Odisha.

To highlight awareness about the pressing issues of plastic pollution, International Plastic Bag Free Day was celebrated by the Centre for Environmental Studies (CES) under the Department of Forest & Environment, Government of Odisha on 03.07.2022 at Vivekananda Sikhya Kendra, BDA Colony, Chandrasekharpur and Sri Aurobindo School of Integral Education, Rasulgarh.

While State Government is making determined efforts for elimination of Single Use Plastic in Odisha, Center For Environmental Studies(CES) has extended its support for such a green endeavor in a big way. CES is taking proactive steps in this regard, thanks to a well laid out strategy by Team CES headed by veteran IFS Officer, Rajiv Kumar Director CES. Mr.Kumar is known for his love for nature and green efforts.

The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has included more items in the ban on single use plastic in urban areas and set the deadline of June 30 for all stakeholders to abide by its order. In a public notice, the OSPCB has stated that manufacture, sale and use of the banned items will be strictly enforced from July 1. As per the amended Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, manufacture, import, distribution and sale of polystyrene and expanded polystyrene items will also be prohibited from the date. The new plastic products which have been brought under the banned category include sticks of ear buds, sticks of balloons, flags, candy sticks and ice-cream sticks. Thickness of carry bags made from virgin or recycled plastic will be increased from not less than 75 microns to 120 microns from December 31, 2022, the notice stated. The Board has also directed the government agencies to intensify enforcement and take action against the violators of the order. It may be noted that the state government had banned manufacture, sale, trade, import, storage, transport, use or distribution of polythene and single-use plastic items in October, 2019. The products which were banned included drinking water packed in polythene terephthalate bottles of less than 200 ml capacity, cutlery made of thermocol, polyurethane or plastic, decorative materials, plastic dishes such as spoon, cup, plate, glass, fork, bowl, container and pouches, polythene bags and water pouches. Source: https://odishabytes.com/

Chairman, State Pollution Control Board Suresh Chandra Mahapatra released a book titled “A Pilot Study on Beach Litter Pollution: Paradeep 2019. The book is authored by Dr. K. Murugesan, Member Secretary Odisha State Pollution Control Board, N. Mallick, S.S. Pati. S.D. Sharma, B.S. Panda, S. Mishra, S. Nayak, and B. Saran and it is findings of a pilot study. Learned Author, Dr. Murugesan is known for his deep knowledge in environment protection and did his Ph.D in the sector, officials say. This is first of its kind in the State as well as in the country on Beach Litter Pollution along the coast of an industrial town of Odisha (Paradeep), its impacts and their management. SPCB is working on Integrated Coastal Zone Management Program through its Coastal Management Cell (CMC), and has acquired expertise on wide range of activities on Coastal Pollution since 2013. This is a publication of State Pollution Control Board and the publication would pave way to cover other future potential beaches in the an aim to protect our pristine coastline from contamination with metals, Micro Plastic etc. though Beach Litterarine Integrated Coastal Zone Management Program (ICZ publications, said Mr. Mahapatra. Mr. Mahapatra congratulated the authors for the methodological analysis and useful outcome of the volume. The book was released in the presence of Mona Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary, Forest, Environment and Climate Change (FE&CC), Vishal Dev, Principal Secretary Finance, Susanta Nanda, Director, FE&CC and K Murugesan, Member Secretary, SPCB. The volume spells out practical picture on marine regional end, their potential transport, categorization, influential climatic factors and ultimate fate in ecosystem with observations in well navigate the complexities of the issue while maintaining green compliances. Source- https://tathya.in/beach-litter-pollution-book-released/