The Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad (SMP) is preparing to establish a plastic processing facility within the Parishad territory at an estimated cost of Rs 3 crore in an effort to rid village areas of plastic pollution.

The unit's land survey has already been finished. The plastic waste will be recycled and made into new, environmentally safe products in this processing facility.

“We are planning to set up the unit at Phansidewa block. The estimated budget for the project is about Rs 3 crore. But the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is yet to be finalized. The final project details will be made public after the finalization of DPR,” said Arun Ghosh, the Sabhadhipati of Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad.

The unit will be set up on 13 acres of land. Land has been already finalised in the Phansidewa block. Apart from the plastic processing unit, a biogas production unit from cattle dung will also be built in the Mahakuma Parishad area.

The land has not been finalised yet but plans are underway to set up the plant between Bidhannagar Gram Panchayat and Naxalbari Gram Panchayat. The DPR is under process for that project too.