In a
significant move towards checking pollution due to waste plastic
material, the State Government following the directives of the Forest
and Environment Ministry, Government of India, has banned the sale and
use of plastic carry bags of less than 8-12 inch size and below
20 micron thickness in the state. The State Environment Department
Secretary and Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board chairman
Vivek Dhand informed in a press release that the sale and use of
plastic carry bags of thickness below 20 micron was banned under the
provisions of Recycle Plastic Manufacture and Usage Rule, 1999 by the
Government of India. However, certain amendments have been brought
about in this rule recently according to which in addition of 20
micron limit of thickness, a provision has been incorporated to limit
the size as well. Now the sale and use of plastic carry bags less than
8-12 inch size is also prohibited, informed Dhand. Elaborating on
other provisions of the rule, Dhand said the minimum weight of 50
plastic carry bags should be 105 grams. He said besides ensuring
strict enforcement of the rule, the State Environment Department would
also ensure that no food material is stored, carried distributed or
packed in the recycled plastic material.
According
to Dhand, the plastic carry bags and utensils should be in their
natural or white colour. More over, as per the amendment in the rule,
now it is mandatory for all the manufacturers of carry bags, be it of
the fresh or recycled plastic, to get the registration of their
production unit renewed by the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation
Board. Those found to be violating all these norms will be liable to
punishment as per provisions.
Undoubtedly,
plastic, which is ubiquitous and indispensable and indispensable
material in the modern society, has posed a major threat to our
environment. While the plastic waste chokes the sewerage system in the
urban areas, it destroys the fertility of the fields also. Due to
non-biodegradable nature of plastic, there is no other way but to
avoid the use of it as much as possible. |