Polythene carry bags below thickness of 50 microns
MPCB to penalise defaulters
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 20 2018:
Manipur Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has announced that it will start penalising the shops and business establishments which defy the prohibition order against carry-bags made of polythene below the thickness of 50 microns under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.Under the Act, anyone using polythene bags or carrying such bags (less than 50 microns in the case of Manipur) is liable to imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and a fine which may extend to Rs 1 lakh or both.
This was stated by MPCB scientist (C) Khumanthem Tomba during a drive conducted at the shops situated in the surrounding areas of Ngari Galli, Thangal bazar today.
Asserting that MPCB has so far conducted three such drives in Imphal area (including today' s drive), Tomba said during the drive polythene bags were seized from the shops and the owners were just warned not to use such non-biodegradable products in the future.
However, from the next drive onwards, MPCB will not spare any shop owner who are found using such polythene bags and will award proper punishments under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 .
he said and added that MPCB has already sorted out plan/policy/strategy to replace polythene bags with paper bags and biodegradable bags.
Pointing out that similar drives will be conducted throughout the State, Tomba asked all the shops and vendors to cooperate with the authority.
Pointing out that use of plastic bags has already given serious impacts to the environment and human beings, he conveyed that the ban was taken up by the Government considering the ill effects of such type of plastics.
During the drive today, members of MPCB along with police personnel searched various shops and seized polythene bags less than 50 microns in thickness after measuring their thickness.