India, Dec. 26 -- A plastic waste management unit (PWMU) set up under the Chhaygaon Legislative Assembly Constituency in Assam's Kamrup district has remained defunct barely two months after its inauguration, raising questions over the use of public funds, officials and local organisations said.

The unit was inaugurated on July 25, 2023, with the stated objective of strengthening plastic waste collection and recycling in the area. However, sources said the facility stopped operations within two months of becoming functional and has not resumed work since.

Officials attributed the shutdown to mechanical failure. While technical problems can occur, members of the Chhaygaon Students' Union expressed concern that the unit has remained non-op...