Flipkart, Patanjali get CPCB notices for ops closure
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has told the NGT that it has issued show cause notices for closure of operations to Flipkart and Patanjali Peya as they are not registered with it and have not responded to its communications on the matter.
In a report submitted to the National Green Tribunal, the CPCB has said the show cause notice under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, has been issued to these units on October 8, for closure of their operation and environment compensation for noncompliance of provisions of Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2018.
The CPCB further informed the NGT that four firms—Hindustan Coca-cola Beverages Pvt Ltd, Pepsico India Holding Pvt Ltd, Bisleri International Pvt Ltd, and Ms NourishCo Beverages Ltd—are registered with CPCB. ‘However, they have not provided information for evidence based assessment of implementation of action plan for fulfilment of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) liability’.
The documents submitted by them have not been endorsed by state pollution control boards (SPCBs) and accordingly, the show cause notice has been
issued to these firms as well.
It also informed the NGT that “Amazon Seller Service Pvt. Ltd, Coca-Cola India Pvt. Ltd, Parle Agro Pvt. Ltd, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corp Ltd have been recently granted registration by CPCB as Brand Owner/producer under Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules,2018”.
It told the NGT that they are required to submit quarterly progress reports and comply with conditions stipulated in the registration certificate issued to them.
With regard to the tribunal’s direction on environmental audit of these firms, the CPCB said it has held deliberations with expert agencies on the
matter. “Since, it will be for the first time that such an audit shall be conducted, a committee has been constituted to deliberate and suggest mechanism for conducting environmental audit as well as specify the agencies which can be engaged for such audits,” the CPCB said.
The submission came in response to a plea filed by a 16-year-old boy who has approached the tribunal to stop e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart from excessive plastic use in their packaging.
Aditya Dubey, through his legal guardian, has pleaded the NGT to direct Amazon and Flipkart to stop excessive use of plastic in packaging the goods delivered by the firms.