Page 25 - Plastics News April 2018

FeAtures

How the Plastic ban in Maharashtra has affected people, businesses

in Mumbai, other cities

Plastic was a cheaper option that made it economical to sell goods. By moving back to other forms, there
will be an increase in the cost of packaged goods and there would be a shift to denuding forest land

he state government has taken the stringent measures 3. The industry body has requested Maharashtra chief
Tagainst use of plastic. Workers and traders are minister Devendra Fadnavis to treat food grains and
witnessing the negative impact of this move. However, all food items including fruits and vegetables at par
in a relief to the affected ones, the Devendra Fadnavis with milk. The repository (50 paisa per bag) scheme
government has announced that the complete ban should be extended on them, the body said. Gandhi,
on plastic bottles with a capacity lower than 0.5 litre however, cautioned that failure to act immediately
will now be reversed. It said this will now be brought will cause untold misery to all This may not yield
under a depository scheme. It is also learnt that the commensurate gains to the environment as envisioned
by the plastic ban notification, Gandhi said.
4. Clothing Manufacturers Association of India chairman
Rajesh Masand said over 6,80,000 readymade
garments pieces for exports are stuck on account
of non-availability of transparent plastic bags for
packing in Mumbai.
5. Plastic Bag Manufacturers Association of India
has also raised concerns over the issue. Minister
for Environment Ramdas Kadam has said the
Government’s major concern is non-collection of
plastic bottles.
Notably, the Devendra Fadnavis government on March 23
had issued the Maharashtra Plastic and Thermocol Products
notification that banned the manufacture, use, storage,
distribution, sale, import and transportation of all kinds
of plastic items. The ban covers a wide range of articles
state government is likely to exempt bags used to pack made of plastic and thermocol, including, bags, dishes,
garments, take away food containers,plastic glass, cups, glasses, bowls, forks, spoon, straw, containers, small
bowls etc. The government had made a provision of Rs PET bottles and decoration items.
10 crore for creating public awareness about effective
implementation of the move. Still, reports say there The ban is an extreme form of curtailment and raises some
will be consequences, which need to be addressed and a important questions that need to be thought of, as it can
solution is the need of the hour. create as much havoc in our lives as demonetisation did.
1. According to an Industry estimates, nearly 3,00,000 There is a lot of inter-state movement of people and goods,
people are set to become jobless due to this move. it opens the door to administrative extortion at the entry-
points when goods come from states that do not have such
2. Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce and Industry laws. With airports, railways stations and bus stands being
vice president Lalit Gandhi said that the ban on points of arrival, monitoring the same becomes difficult.
plastic bags has derailed the production, packaging How are we going to deal with it? There are No answers
and supply schedules of grains, bakery and clothing on this.
industries. Many units are on the verge of closure in
the absence of basic packaging material. Secondly, just like how the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
phased out old notes with a pre-dated stamp, it requires

25 April 2018 Plastics News