Shimla, June 5
Himachal Pradesh today became the first state in the country to impose a ban on the use of plastic carrybags having thickness less than 70 microns.
Announcing this today on the occasion of the World Environment Day, the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, said despite the earlier ban, indiscriminate use of plastic carrybags of all types was still being done. He said plastic bags could still be seen littered all over the hill slopes, in drains and on roads, posing serious sanitation and environmental problems.
The notification in this regard was issued today by the Department of Science and Technology. “The stockists, traders, retailers and vendors have been given time till June 15, after which they shall be fined if found using carrybags made of non-biodegradable material,” he said. He said that the fine on this account could be from Rs 500 to Rs 25,000.
As per the latest notification all those who use carrybags made of non-biodegradable material listed in the schedule to the Himachal Pradesh Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1995, having thickness of less than 70 microns and size less than 12 inches by 18 inches can be punished.
As per the earlier notification, the ban was only on coloured polythene carrybags having thickness less than 20 microns and did not cover the entire state, as it was applicable only in Manali and Shimla. As such, the problem of polythene bags posing a serious environmental threat continued. Today’s notification covers all
rural as well as urban areas of the state.
“We wanted to impose a complete ban on the use of plastic carrybags in 1999 also, but due to pressure from the powerful plastic lobby we could not get the consent from the President of India,” he informed. He assured that the ban would now be enforced even more strictly so that plastic did not play havoc with the fragile ecology of the hill state.
He lamented that despite instructions for segregation of the degradable and non-biodegradable garbage before disposal, it was being followed only in Shimla and Manali, with the situation remaining deplorable. “It is not possible for the government alone to enforce this ban effectively. The public must cooperate and ensure that our fragile hill ecology remains protected,” he sated.
