Awareness on ban of single use plastics begins
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIO

Bishnupur, July 08 2022: Bishnupur district administration in association with urban local bodies and district level officers on Friday carried out day long mass awareness campaign in connection with ban imposed on sale and use of Single Use Plastics (SUP) at Bishnupur Bazar.

The awareness campaign will continue all through this month.

The campaign was carried out in line with the Manipur Plastic Policy, 2022 for effective management of plastic waste and complete elimination of single-use plastics in the state.

Addressing the gathering, Bishnupur DC Lourembam Bikram stated that a District Level Task Force has been formed to enforce implementation of Manipur Plastic Policy, 2022 at the grassroots level and cautioned that defaulters could be prosecuted and penalties imposed as permissible under law which may extend to five years imprisonment including a fine up to Rs 1 lakh.

Bikram also emphasised on the use of jute bags as well as those made of clothes as an alternative to polythene carry bags and further stressed on the need to revive the practice of carrying one's own carry bags while going to the market and for shopping.

Stating that Bishnupur district is one of the main tourist hotspots of the state, the DC stressed that it is important to maintain cleanliness in the district by abandoning use of SUPs.

He also discouraged the use of Single Use Plastic items such as plates, cups, glasses, cutleries and wrappers or packing films to avoid littering in the tourist spots.

While informing that similar awareness drives on SUP ban will be carried out at different markets of the district, Bikram appealed for cooperation and support from the people in the interest of the environment and future generation.

Also speaking on the occasion, SP Bishnupur N Herojit advocated against the use of plastic bags by saying that the hazards of plastic far outweighs the convenience of using them.

He also pointed out that Single Use Plastics are hard to dispose of as it would take many years to degrade.

Later DC Bikram, SP Herojit, Bishnupur Municipal Council chairperson L Maniyaima Singh, ADM H Bobby Sharma, SDO Moirang L Rishikanta and DLOs walked through the streets of Bishnupur Bazaar distributing clothe carry bags and interacted with shop owners, market vendors and their customers.

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