In the Rania industrial area of Kanpur Dehat, Uttar Pradesh, plastic waste is being manually cut and washed using hot groundwater on open agricultural land. This activity violates the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, and falls under the regulatory provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Processing plastic waste on agricultural land is contrary to requirements for authorized and compliant waste-processing facilities. The uncontrolled washing of plastic waste can contaminate soil and groundwater resources, with plastic residues and contaminated effluents potentially disseminating pollutants into the surrounding agricultural environment. This practice reflects unscientific plastic waste management and poses a significant environmental risk to farmland, groundwater quality, and public health.
Source: Down To Earth