Chennai, Sep 25 (UNI) In a first of its kind initiative in the country,
the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) in coordination
with the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
and the State Government will organise a two-day National Expo
on Eco-alternatives to banned Single Use Plastics (SUPs) and
Startup Conference here from tomorrow.
The Expo, to be inaugurated by Union Minister for Environment,
Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, in the presence
of Union Miniister of State for I and B and Fisheries L.Murugan,
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin and State Minister for
Environment, Climate Change, Youth Welfare and Sports
Development Siva.V.Meyyanathan, will create an opportunity
for the manufacturers of alternatives to SUPs to showcase their
products and to make public aware of the various alternatives
available for the banned SUPs.
A release from the TNPCB here on Sunday said the Tamil Nadu
Government has banned 14 types of SUPs in the State with effect
from January one, 2019 and to create awareness among the public
on the ill effects of disposal of SUPs and the need for avoiding the
same, the Chief Minister had on December 23 last year launched
the “Meendum Manjappai” campaign and distributed Manjappai to
school students, public, etc.
Subsequently, the Union Government also banned certain SUPs
throughout the country with effect from July one this year.
In this background, the National Expo and Start up Conference is
being organised which will be first of its kind in the country.
There will be 150 stalls exhibiting alternatives to SUPs viz., banana
leaf products, fibre/rice bran/rice husk/ agricultural products, areca
leaves products, coconut shell products, coir products, pottery
products, palm products, cloth/jute products, compostable carry
bags/cutlery products, cloth banners, by the manufacturers from
all over the country.
They will also be exhibiting the machineries used for the manufacture
of eco-alternatives.
There will be five startup conferences on various aspects of alternates
to SUP, plastic waste management and air pollution management over
two days of the event. These conferences will provide opportunity for
interaction with various stakeholders and funding agencies for the start
ups.
The exhibition will also provide opportunity to identify potential sellers
and buyers of alternatives to SUPs.
On the first day, the National Expo will be inaugurated by Bhupender Yadav
during which the Directory of Manufacturers of Eco-Alternative Materials for
SUP in Tamil Nadu prepared by the TNPCB will be launched.
On the second day, Start-Up Conference will be inaugurated by Union Minister
of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ashwini Kumar Choubey,
in the presence of Central Pollution Control Board Chairman Tanmay Kumar
and other officials.
Several dignitaries including Secretaries of various Union Ministries Secretaries
of State Governments and the Chairman and Member Secretaries of other State
Pollution Control Boards will also be attending the event.
This National Expo is open to all including public, school and college students,
entrepreneurs for startups for eco-alternatives to SUPs and people involved in
business like, hoteliers, caterers, kalyana mandapams, theatres, etc, at free of
cost, which will endow knowledge on eco-alternatives to SUPs and technology
transfer.
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