Govt goals

New -Delhi, April 18 (PTI) The government strives for the completion of physical infrastructure at all nine plastic parks at the end of 2025, according to the secretary of Chemicals and Petrochemicals Nivedita Shukla Verma. The government has so far approved a total of 10 plastic parks under a central scheme that offers financing up to 50 percent of project costs, which were at £ 40 crore per park. Currently there is a residence order at one park in Tamil Nadu by National Green Tribunal. “The parks are in different stages of development. We insist on completing the physical infrastructure. By the end of this year, we want to complete the infrastructure in all nine parks,” Verma told PTI. While physical infrastructure is progressing in many parks, operationalization remains slow. Out of nine parks, 3-4 parks are partially operational, which includes Tamot (Madhya Pradesh), Paradeeep (Odisha) and Tinsukia (Assam), she said. While the intention is to complete the parks as early as possible, the secretary said it took a little longer for the plastic parks because of the issues associated with land acquisition and coordination with state governments. However, since the last one-and-a-half years, the government is forcing state governments to complete the physical infrastructure in the parks. “So a lot of progress has taken place in the last few years,” she added. The parks are designed to attract both domestic and foreign investment, improve production and export of plastic products, and create a robust ecosystem for plastic processing. The plastic park scheme was launched in 2013, with approval for Parks in Tamot and Paradeeep granted on October 9, 2013. The scheme has since expanded, with additional parks approved in subsequent years. First published: 18 Apr 2025, 01:14 pm Ist