CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday introduced a Bill prohibiting the sale, storage, transport and use of plastic items to protect the environment and public health.

Now, whoever sells, stores or transports any such non-reusable plastic items - like carrybags, plastic cups and spoons - would be punished with a fine not less than Rs 500 and up to Rs 25,000.

Those using plastic items would also be punished with a fine of Rs 100 to Rs 500. Those using it to package magazines and periodicals would be fined from Rs 1,000 to Rs 50,000. Food establishments using it would be fined anywhere between Rs 5,000 and Rs 50,000.

Tabling the Bill, state Forest and Environment Minister P Mohan contended that there was a rapid increase in the use of plastic articles, particularly non-reusable carry bags, cups, tumblers, plates, spoons, forks, straw, string, cord, sheets, mats and such similar articles.

He said that plastic was non-biodegradable and non-reusable and, therefore, just thrown away, it caused significant environment risk and health hazards.

Solid waste, most of which was plastic, contaminated the underground water and also hindered seepage of rain water into the ground, he said.

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KOLHAPUR: The public hearing of the proposed cross-country Goa-Hyderabad pipeline project for transportation of natural gas/hydrocarbons was held at Udyog Bhavan here on Tuesday. The district’s nine-member committee, appointed by the ministry of environment and forests, discussed various technical and environmental aspects of the project. The Gas Transportation and Infrastructure Company Limited, a sister concern of Reliance Industries Ltd, has proposed to lay the Rs 1,000-crore pipeline project, which originates from Goa and passes through the states of Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

In Maharashtra, the pipeline alignment passes through Sindhudurg, Kolhapur, Sangli and Solapur districts - a distance of around 330 km.

The total length of the proposed 16-inch diameter pipeline is approximately 660 km. The pipeline will transport natural gas/hydrocarbons of 15 MMSCMD/6.3 MMPTA in a switchover mode.

Speaking on the occasion, senior vice-president (pipeline projects) of Reliance Petroleum Limited, Rajendra K. Dhadda, said public safety and environmental concerns would be of prime importance while laying the pipelines. However, group of farmers from the district said they would not allow the pipeline project to pass through their land until the district collectorate and the government gave them written assurance or counter-guarantee on the compensation package. Internationally-acclaimed Hyderabad-based risk analyst cum environmental engineering consultant Sagar Dhara said the company should provide the government with a Rs 100-crore bank guarantee “without prejudice”.

However, utmost care should be taken while laying the pipelines eco-sensitive areas so that flora and fauna do not get destroyed, he said. “No pipeline outlet or developmental activities should be carried out in the Western Ghats.” The pipeline traverses through 330-metre stretch in the Sindhudurg eco-sensitive zone. Dhadda said the trenches would be dug manually eco-sensitive areas.

District collector Rajgopal Deora said the consent of local people and concerned authorities would be taken into consideration before taking any decision.

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