As part of its drive to make the town ‘anti plastic region’, the district administration has taken a series of programmes. Gokul Mohan Hazarika, Deputy Commissioner of Cachar, during a recent meeting with different NGOs and senior citizens proposed the formation of district level environment protection volunteer force with additional deputy commissioner, Arunabha Dey, as chairman and the magistrate, Hemen Gohai Baruah, as the nodal officer. All the Circle Officers of the district will be its members. The Deputy Commissioner appealed to the Silchar Municipality Board as well as the citizens for their help and co–operation to make the drive a successful. He was of the opinion that in 2004 several steps were taken to make the town completely free from anti–plastic and the success was also achieved, but with the passage of time, the situation became same as earlier. Ashim Dutta, coordinator of Foods and Merchant Association announced that they were ready to give awards to those shops and business establishments which would encourage plastic free business deal. He underlined the importance of frequent raids at different shops, markets and business establishments to create a fear among the plastic users. Dutta requested the administration to put a ban on thermocols which according to him create obstacle in the drains. The burning of thermocols is also very injurious to environment. Speaking on the occasion, Arunabha Dey dwelt upon the various provisions in Plastic Control Laws and penalties for violation. Citing the various aspects of the campaign initiated in 2004 under the leadership of the then Deputy Commissioner Sunanda Dasgupta, he said that the drive was highly successful and a kind of complete ban was imposed on the plastic The police also then raided several business establishments and recovered huge bundles of plastic made bags. Following such recovery and imposition of penalties on the guilty, the usage of plastic bags in the town came down. Nogen Boro of Silchar Pollution Control Board while speaking on the occasion said that it was high time for the people to start avoiding plastic made products, otherwise days are not far when these plastic would create a threat for the existence of mankind. According to him, plstic bags having the thickness of more than 40 microns are banned in the country. He underlined the importance of paper made bags and the recycling of various products. Boro said that “each of us should shoulder some of the responsibility for this problem, which ultimately harms us.” Pollution Board has been organizing several events to create awareness among the people about the harmful affects of plastic. The Board organises events in schools annually to aware the students about the evil affects of plastic. Among others who spoke at the meeting convened at the conference hall of Deputy Commissioner’s office included Sourindra Bhattacharjee, a member of The Greens and an educationsit, Irabot Singha, a Human Rights’ activist, Shaswati Dev, Nehru Yuva Kendra.