HC directs HPPWD to consider plastic waste for road construction

SHIMLA: The High Court directed the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Departments (HPPWD) to consider the matter related to the use of plastic waste for the construction of roads at the highest level in the state government to get a comprehensive view and, then file a status report.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ajay Mohan Goel passed this order after perusing the affidavit filed by the Department of Environment.

The affidavit stated that post plastic ban in the state the waste plastic having thickness upto 60 microns was not available.

It further informed that plastic waste was being generated from various sources such as plastic packaging, plastic cups and other plastic material. The plastic waste was mainly collected through urban local bodies.

After examining the affidavit, the court observed that “It is imperative upon the Public Works Department to consider the desirability of using the above-mentioned type of plastic waste for road construction after examining the financial and technical aspects.”

It further said that “the Public Works Department needs to associate other stakeholders and come out with a definite policy decision after evaluating an estimated cost of conversion of the waste plastic material usable for road construction and availability of such technical process in the state.”

The court passed this order on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an organization, People for Responsive Governance, for utilising waste plastic in the construction of roads. The petition stated that it would not only solve the problem of waste plastic but also improve the roads.