Uttarakhand puts red cross on polythene use from next month

Dehradun, July 31: ‘New Month New Resolution’, with this mantra Uttarakhand has imposed a polythene ban from August 1. And also Uttarakhand becomes the third state after Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh for this kind of ban.

 

The announcement was made by CM Trivendra Singh Rawat via Twitter on Monday saying, “A step towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji’s Swachh Bharat and to make Uttarakhand polythene-free. An absolute ban on the use of polythene in the entire state from August 1, 2018.”

The central government has banned polythene below 40 microns, but the government in hill state in its order last year put a ban on all kind of bags made out of plastic and its derivatives.

This primarily includes shopping bags, small bags used to carry groceries and even bags used for carrying open milk. The packaged items, however, are debarred from the ban including packaged bakery, milk and other items.

“There’s already a government order of January 2017 which bans the use of plastic and its derivatives. The administration will now have to ensure its enforcement,” said SP Subuddhi, member secretary Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board.

 

The govt has announced the fine list if found using polythene from the date:

Rs 5000 for shopkeepers

Rs 2000 for stalls

And Rs 500 for the customers