top of page

By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Poriborton!

BJP candidate for Bhabanipur and Nandigram constituencies Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the prestigious Bhabanipur seat, shows a certificate of election on Monday. Pic: PTI Mumbai: The Bengali word “Poriborton” translates to profound change. While it was initially fiercely utilized as the central battle cry for the assembly elections in West Bengal, the final tally from all five state elections reveals that the spirit of the word has swept across...

Poriborton!

BJP candidate for Bhabanipur and Nandigram constituencies Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the prestigious Bhabanipur seat, shows a certificate of election on Monday. Pic: PTI Mumbai: The Bengali word “Poriborton” translates to profound change. While it was initially fiercely utilized as the central battle cry for the assembly elections in West Bengal, the final tally from all five state elections reveals that the spirit of the word has swept across the entire nation. The recent electoral outcomes have fundamentally rewritten the established rules of Indian democracy. From a massive anti-incumbency wave overturning fifteen years of rule in Bengal, to a political novice shattering a six-decade Dravidian stronghold in Tamil Nadu, and the Congress-led alliance successfully dislodging the incumbent Left in Kerala, the electorate has delivered a highly decisive mandate. Alongside sweeping consolidations of power in Assam and Puducherry, these results collectively disrupt historical traditions and reshape the national political landscape for years to come. Titan Toppled In West Bengal, the call for Poribartan finally resonated with enough force to bring down a formidable political fortress. A relentless anti-incumbency wave has overturned Mamata Banerjee’s fifteen-year rule. For a decade and a half, the Trinamool Congress maintained an iron grip on the state’s narrative, having previously ousted the Left Front on the very same promise of sweeping change. The defeat of the incumbent government signifies a monumental shift in the political psychology of Bengal. The electorate, driven by an urgent desire for a new direction, has dismantled a deeply entrenched political machine. This result forces a complete recalibration of power dynamics in eastern India, leaving a massive political vacuum that victorious forces will now rush to fill, fundamentally altering the governance trajectory of the state. Duopoly Shattered Equally seismic is the political earthquake that has struck Tamil Nadu. For six decades, the state’s political arena was fiercely guarded by a seemingly unbreakable Dravidian duopoly, with power alternating predictably between established giants. However, the emergence of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, led by cinema icon Thalapathy Vijay, has dismantled this historical dominance. By emerging as the single-largest party in the assembly count, the TVK has achieved what generations of politicians deemed impossible. This is not merely a change in government but a profound cultural and political revolution. The voters of Tamil Nadu have overwhelmingly opted for a fresh narrative, proving that star power coupled with an untested political promise can still upend deeply rooted ideological empires, ushering in an entirely new era of leadership. Absolute Dominance Meanwhile, the political landscape in the Northeast has witnessed a different kind of decisive mandate. In Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has not only retained power but has emerged significantly stronger, securing a third consecutive term. This victory effectively cements an aggressive regional hegemony and signals the near-total ouster of the Congress party from Assam’s mainstream politics. The result brings an ironclad continuity to the state, allowing the incumbent administration to push forward its agenda without any formidable legislative friction, while leaving the state’s oldest party desperately searching for political relevance. Pendulum Swings In Kerala, the electorate has delivered a decisive blow to the incumbent Left Democratic Front. The Congress-led United Democratic Front has successfully dislodged the government, claiming a vital victory in a state renowned for its fiercely contested, oscillating elections. This resurgence of the UDF injects critical new life into the state’s Congress machinery, drastically altering the governance model in Kerala. The outcome firmly proves that the traditional pendulum of Kerala politics still possesses the momentum to swing back fiercely against the incumbent, denying the Left a continued and uninterrupted grip on power. Comfortable Continuity Further down the coast in Puducherry, the mandate favored stability within a rapidly changing national map. The National Democratic Alliance government, led by the AINRC, comfortably secured its return to power. This victory ensures that the NDA maintains a crucial administrative foothold in the southern union territory, providing a steady anchor for its regional allies amid the broader national churn. When viewed collectively, these independent state results weave a complex tapestry that will inevitably reshape national politics. The fall of towering regional satraps in West Bengal and the disruption of the historic Dravidian stronghold in Tamil Nadu indicate a national electorate that is deeply restless and entirely unafraid to discard legacy systems. For the national opposition, the revival in Kerala offers a much-needed glimmer of hope, though it is heavily overshadowed by the existential crisis they face in Assam. The spectacular rise of new regional entities introduces a fresh, highly unpredictable variable into the national coalition arithmetic ahead of future general elections. Ultimately, the political center of gravity has fundamentally shifted, proving that “Poribartan” is no longer just a localized slogan, but the defining new reality of the country.

Giving Plastic a Second Life: From Hazard to Resource

Instead of letting plastic waste reach landfills, we recycled it into reusable materials, turning a hazard into a resource for the circular economy.

In my earlier article, I shared how our biomedical waste facility in Thane grew from humble beginnings into a recognised, multi-district service network. But the journey was about more than just machines and compliance. Alongside building a state-of-the-art treatment centre, we transformed the surrounding debris-strewn land into a thriving green space—what would become Ankur Theme Park. This initiative turned barren soil into a living classroom, where students, citizens, and environmental enthusiasts could learn directly from nature, explore innovative waste management techniques, and witness sustainable practices in action.

Our commitment to sustainability extended from greening the land to managing hospital waste responsibly, particularly medical-grade plastics that could be recycled rather than discarded.”

Recognising their potential, what began as a simple need to manage waste responsibly evolved into a full-fledged journey: setting up recycling units, upgrading facilities, and navigating regulatory and operational challenges over the years.

Various plastic items or devices used in hospitals during treatment are made from high-quality, medical-grade plastics, including polycarbonates, polypropylene, and polyethylene. Generally, these are collected and transported in red-coloured bags to the common facility and sent to the landfills after proper treatment. This results in the loss of precious resources. This plastic can be recycled and reused following a circular economy path.

When we realised the importance of this plastic, we started our own plastic waste recycling unit in Murbad MIDC after obtaining all the necessary permissions and authorisations from the concerned authorities. Our team used to disinfect plastic waste received in red bags from the hospitals in an autoclave. Such disinfected plastic was then shredded into pieces in a mechanical shredder.

These pieces were then stored in gunny bags and transported to our own recycling unit. For operating this plant, we had employed a few people from the Murbad tribal area. After the Biomedical Waste Management Rules, 2016, came into force, operators were allowed to collect biomedical waste from hospitals within a 75 km radius. New facilities were subsequently established in Vasai-Virar and other areas.

By 2013, we wanted to replace our incinerator, as it had almost reached the end of its life. We wanted to buy a new machine with modern technology. As per the rules, we now needed a bigger place for the installation of new machines. We applied to the concerned authorities in Thane Municipal Corporation for a suitable plot and to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board for authorisation to install new machines, particularly the incinerator.

As per the law, the Thane Municipal Corporation was responsible for providing suitable land. We were allotted a plot of about three acres in size in Daighar, near the ShilPhata area. All paperwork was done. We got the land in our possession and started planning for erecting the required infrastructure on that plot. We hired an architect and started working on it. However, one fine day, suddenly, we were asked to surrender the plot, as the said plot is to be allotted to a company for their highly ambitious waste-to-energy project. We were stunned and unsure how to proceed.

Then the 2019-2020 coronavirus pandemic struck humanity all over the world. The number of patients admitted to hospitals due to coronavirus infection started growing. In that proportion, the volume of infectious waste also started growing. This waste comprised of personal protective robes, gowns, masks, and other disposables, which were extremely hazardous.

Our workload increased manifold, as this was in addition to our regular workload. All our workers did an amazing job working almost around the clock to make sure that the waste was properly treated. To our surprise, none of our workers caught the coronavirus infection.

By the time the pandemic was over, we received a notice from MPCB asking us to stop the work in this facility because we were not taking any measures to upgrade our systems. We pleaded that unless TMC provides us with suitable land as required by the law, we cannot upgrade our system.

MPCB and TMC went on tossing the ball in each other’s courts, and finally, in 2022, with heavy hearts, we were compelled to close down our facility.


(The author is an environmentalist. Views personal.)

Comments

bottom of page