Plastic menace returns to Konark, Sparking environmental concerns

Konark, June 5: Once celebrated as a clean, plastic-free town, Konark is now witnessing a troubling resurgence in the use of plastic, polythene, and thermocol—posing a serious threat to its environment and public health.

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Despite earlier efforts by local authorities to curb plastic pollution, the use of banned items such as polythene carry bags, thermocol products, and pouch water is once again on the rise. Daily tourist influx to the iconic Sun Temple, along with booming roadside trade in nearby areas like Chandrabhaga and Ramachandi, has exacerbated the problem.

Cloth bags and paper pouches, once staples of everyday life, have nearly vanished, replaced by single-use plastic. Stray animals, especially cows, have been spotted consuming leftover food wrapped in plastic, leading to rising health issues. Waste-clogged drains—blocked by discarded plastic—are also disrupting the town's water drainage system, raising the risk of urban flooding.

Although the use and sale of polythene under 20 microns is prohibited under Sections 15 and 16 of the Environmental Protection Act, enforcement by the Konark Notified Area Council (NAC) has been weak, allowing illegal practices to flourish unchecked.

Locals report that vendors have resumed selling pouch water, defying previous bans. Particularly in the surrounding villages, the distribution and consumption of such plastic-packaged water remain rampant.

Former Puri District Collector Balwant Singh had earlier launched a vigorous campaign to rid Konark of plastic, transforming the temple town into a model of cleanliness. Under his leadership, strict action had been taken against violators, and Konark was on track to becoming Odisha’s first polythene-free town.

Today, that progress appears to have reversed. Konark is once again grappling with the very issues it had once overcome. Concerned citizens and environmental activists are now calling on the district administration to revive enforcement and take urgent steps to restore Konark’s environmental integrity.