Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 22:
The State Govt has once again decided to ban the use and sale of certain types of plastic carry bags with effect from April 1.An order to this effect has already been issued by the Forest and Environment Dept in line with the directives issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, 1989.As per the order issued, the Government will ban the manufacture, stock, distribution and sale of plastic carry bags of virgin or recycled plastic which are less that 8 inches X 12 inches (20 cms X 30 cms) in size.
The Govt has also stipulated that the minimum weight of fifty plastic carry bags shall be 105 gms.
All manufacturers of carry bags or containers of virgin plastic or recycled plastic should file an application to the State Pollution Control Board for registration or renewal of regis- tration for the firm within two months of the date of the issuance of the order, the Govt laid down.
The order also forbids any unit or person from manufacturing plastic carry bags or containers, irrespective of its size or weight unless the unit is registered with the Pollution Control Board.
Further the Govt has also laid clamped down on vendors or sellers from using carry bags made of plastic for storing, carrying, dispensing or packaging of foodstuffs, including food articles and food products, fast foods, processed or cooked food in liquid, powder, solid or semi solid form and commodities meaning vegetables, fruits, pharmaceuticals, groceries, sweets, fish, meat etc.
Anyone wo fails to comply with the guidelines laid down by the Government will be liable for prosecution under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the order added.
The State Commerce and Industry Dept, Home Department, Tourism Dept, Environment and Ecology Wing, Municipality Council of every town in the State have been asked to take necessary steps for proper execution and implementation of the order issued.
This is not the first time that the State Govt has decided to ban the use and sale of certain categories of plastic carry bags.
During the PR stint, the then Governor, Ved Mar-wah had announced a ban on the use of certain types of plastic carry bags.
More recently, the then Forest Minister N Biren had launched a crack down on the sale and stocking of plastic carry bags in the commercial areas of Imphal.
All these measures did not have the required effect as no follow up efforts were taken and plastic carry bags continue to rule the roost in Manipur, save for some district like Ukhrul, where its use has been strictly banned by some social organisations of the district to save the environment.