Uttarakhand to enforce plastic ban from August 1

The Uttarakhand government has announced to enforce a complete ban on single use plastic bags, plastic cutlery, and thermocol in the state from August 1.

“We have directed all district magistrates (DMs) to ensure enforcement of the order. Plastic in any form won’t be used in Uttarakhand from August 1,” cabinet minister Madan Kaushik on Monday said.

Uttarakhand is the third state after Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh to enforce a ban on plastic. In January 2017, the then Congress government in state issued an order banning manufacture, distribution and sale of polythene carry bags and single use plastic cutlery. It followed an Uttarakhand high court ruling in December 2016, ordering a blanket ban on sale, purchase and use of plastic. The court had also banned entry of carry bags into the state by any means of transport — bus, trains and air.

Chief minister TS Rawat recently announced that the ban would be enforced in spirit from August 1. A penalty of ₹5,000 will be charged from violators, as per the government order.

The central government has banned polythene below 40 microns, but the government in hill state in its order last year put a ban on all kind of bags made out of plastic and its derivatives.

This primarily includes shopping bags, small bags used to carry groceries and even bags used for carrying open milk. The packaged items, however, are debarred from the ban including packaged bakery, milk and other items.

“There’s already a government order of January 2017 which bans use of plastic and its derivatives. The administration will now have to ensure its enforcement,” said SP Subuddhi, member secretary Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board.

The board, in a survey carried out in 81 cities of state, highlighted how by 2041, plastic waste would double. Currently, 17% of waste is plastic.

The survey conducted in 2016-2017 stated that 272.22 tonnes per day plastic is reported from the total waste presently, which will increase to at least 457.63 tonnes in 2041.

Dehradun recorded highest plastic waste. The survey stated that 327.9 tonnes per day of plastic is added to the waste in the state capital which is going to increase to 584.051 tonnes per day. Second is Haridwar with 236.5 tonnes a day and it is going to increase by 368.363 tonnes a day in the given period.

The government order has made sub-divisional magistrates and tehsildars in rural and urban areas for the enforcement of the order.

The municipal commissioners, police and even forest department will be responsible for enforcing the ban in their respective areas.