Page 56 - Plastics News November 2021

IN THE NEwS

Pathetic Implementation Of Ban On Single Telangana Draws Up

Use Plastics In TN, Says NGT Plan To Stamp Out

Single-Use Plastic

he Municipal Administration
T&Urban Development, Telangana
(MAUD) Department has drawn up
a comprehensive plan to eliminate
the use of single-use plastic in Urban
Local Bodies (ULB) across the State.
The plan specifies timelines for the
implementation of Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs) laid down in the
Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016,
by the Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB). The action plan for the ban
on carry bags and single-use plastic

he southern bench of the National regulators to trace out the sources from less than 75 microns in thickness came
TGreen Tribunal (NGT) has issued where these vendors were procuring the into force in the third week of October
directions to the Tamil Nadu Chief plastic bags, they could effectively take this year, and its implementation will
Secretary and Environment department action against those persons who are go on till June 30, 2022. As for plastics
secretary to revive the steering committee violating the ban. Pointing out that the less than 120 microns in thickness, the
and the regional monitoring committees Chennai district collector too had some plan will be executed from July 1, 2022,
to take all effective steps to implement pro-active role to play to implement to December 31, 2022. The Central
the ban on single use plastics in the the ban, the bench said steps would government had issued a notification
State in letter and spirit. The Bench have to be taken by the Government to in September to implement the Plastic
said this was required for protecting the provide some assistance to such vendors
environment and to protect the health by providing bio-degradable bags at
of the people and living organisms in the subsidised rates through government
Universe. “The government must also agencies. “Mere issuance of notice
understand the need for protecting the ban orders will not be sufficient unless
environment which has been expressed there is a will power, the Government
by World leaders in the recent UN agencies who are expected to implement
Climate Change Conference (COP 26) the ban will not be able to implement
held at Glasgow,” the bench said. The it in letter and spirit,” the bench said.
court took note of the submissions Continuous monitoring and effective
made by the TNPCB and said certain steps to penalise the persons responsible
steps had been taken by the authorities for flouting the ban would be required by Waste Management Rules, wherein it is
for implementation of the ban and the agencies. In January 2019, the Tamil stated that carry bags made of virgin or
closure However, the applicant submitted Nadu government banned 14 types of recycled plastic should not be less than
photographs of the use of single use plastic items including single-use plastic 75 microns in thickness after September
plastic, which the Tribunal said “shows bags and polythene covers. But the plan 30, 2021, and not less than 120 microns
the pathetic condition of implementation has remained on paper and use of plastic in thickness after December 31, 2022.
of ban on one time and throwaway bags continues in almost all districts, The department has directed all the
plastic bags and it is still continuing at except the Niligirs. The department has municipal commissioners to submit
the grass root levels especially by small issued orders to all district administration an action taken report for the ban on
vendors”. The bench further said if officers to enforce strict measures for the single-use plastic in their respective
certain effective steps are taken by the use of polythene covers. jurisdictions.

56 PLASTICS NEWS NOVEMBER 2021