Guwahati, Agartala, Imphal airports complete a year as “single-use plastic-free” terminals

GUWAHATI: Guwahati, Agartala and Imphal airports in the Northeast have completed a year as “single-use plastic-free” terminals.

As of now, there are 85 such terminals within the country.

“Various steps have been undertaken by AAI to eliminate the single-use plastic items at passenger terminals and city side of AAI airports. These steps include banning of singleuse plastic items like straws, plastic cutleries, plastic plates etc. AAI is also enhancing its waste management systems and is promoting the use of ecofriendly sustainable alternatives like use of biodegradable garbage bags in the garbage bins and installation of plastic bottle crushing machine at airports. AAI airports have also started various awareness campaigns for sensitizing all stakeholders specially passengers towards the cause and to drive engagement and cooperation from all of them,” according to a statement by AAI.

The statement talks about formulation of an “Environment Policy which envisages its commitment for reduction of Green House Gases(GHG) and sustainable development by implementing cost-effective carbon mitigation action to conserve environment and reduce adverse impact on society, community and ecosystem thus contributing to national sustainable development goals.”

It is worth mentioning that the dream of the much-hyped Greenfield Airport project at Hollongi in Arunachal Pradesh is all set to turn into reality with the work of the ambitious project being awarded to a Gujarat-based construction company. As per the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the work has been awarded to Dinesh Chandra R Agarwal Infracon Pvt Ltd of Ahmedabad, through tender process. The work once awarded has to be completed within a period of 30 months. After physical completion of the work, the firm shall enter in supplementary agreements with the AAI for operation and maintenance for a period of seven years including two years of Defect Liability Period (DLP).The tender for the terminal building is also in the pipeline. The foundation stone of the project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 9, 2019 during a programme at IG Park here.

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