In line with the directives of the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, a significant meeting took place on August 24, 2023, to address the imperative concerns of plastic waste management and harnessing technology for agricultural advancements in Himachal Pradesh.
The meeting convened representatives from key organizations including the ACTION ALLIANCE FOR RECYCLING BEVERAGE CARTONS (AARC), PET PACKAGING ASSOCIATION FOR CLEAN ENVIRONMENT (PACE), and WASTE EFFICIENT COLLECTION AND RECYCLING EFFORTS (WE Care) who are actively engaged in managing various aspects of plastic waste, from beverage containers to PET bottles and multi-layer plastics. The meeting was chaired by D.C Rana, IAS, Director of the Department of Environment, Science, Technology & Climate Change, Himachal Pradesh.
The core focus of the discussion was to promote the mechanism of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), emphasizing the need for Plastic Waste Processors across Himachal Pradesh to be registered in every district. It was underscored that creating awareness among producers, importers, and brand owners about registration under the centralized portal developed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change and the Central Pollution Control Board is essential.
Additionally, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s vision to leverage technology for agricultural growth was addressed. The meeting highlighted the potential of a Common Crowd-based Kisan Information System, which would provide vital information via SMS and WhatsApp to farmers about climate change, weather forecasts, and crowd-sourced weather predictions at the Panchayat level.
A collaborative approach involving representatives from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Agriculture Department, Horticulture Department, IT Department, and Department of Environment Science Technology & Climate Change was agreed upon to develop this system.
Sh. D.C. Rana highlighted the existing application, MEGHDOOT, provided by the Government of India for farmers, and the need for a more specific and useful Climate Change advisory application tailored for Himachal Pradesh.
Furthermore, a strategic decision was taken to establish a thematic working group comprising experts from IMD, Agriculture Department, Horticulture Department, IT Department, and the Department of Environment Science Technology & Climate Change, along with professors and scientists from Agriculture and Horticulture Universities in Himachal Pradesh.
To propel agricultural progress, the Indian Meteorological Department committed to initiating the creation of an Agro Met data collection advisory system at the Panchayat level. This endeavor is poised to greatly benefit the agriculture and horticulture communities across the state, aligning with the government’s commitment to sustainable practices and technological empowerment.
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