Plastic ban in Odisha starting Oct 2
Bhubaneswar, July 10: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday announced a ban on the use of plastic in the state from October 2, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
In the first phase, plastic will be banned in six places -- the pilgrim city of Puri, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Sambalpur and Rourkela.
Plastic bags, polyethylenes and single-use plastic material would be completely banned across the state in the next two years, said Patnaik at an environment awareness programme under the "Ama Mukhyamantri Ama Katha" here.
While the Housing and Urban Development Department have been entrusted with the task of enforcing it in urban areas, it will be the responsibility of the Panchayati Raj (PR) Department in rural areas.
Forest and Environment Department will monitor the controlling of plastic pollution in the entire state.
The Chief Minister also said everyone must plant a sapling during the ongoing rainy season and take care of it.
"If we all plant a tree each and take care of it, the environment will be protected and human beings will live in good condition. We must all work for the development of our family and society," he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
