Uttarakhand HC asks govt to keep eyes on polythene sale and use

Dehradun, September 10: The Uttarakhand High Court on Friday directed the State to apprise the Court of the steps taken to implement the Court’s as well as the Chief Minister’s directions to “eradicate the polythene menace”.

 

The Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Rajiv Sharma and Justice Lok Pal Singh also directed District Magistrates throughout the state to launch a “special initiative” to check the sale and use of polythene.

The High Court has several times in the past, advocated for the efficient implementation of a state-wide plastic ban. Thereafter, on the World Environment Day this year, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had also announced a blanket ban on polythene from August 1. All polythene wholesalers had been asked to finish their polythene stocks by the given date.

Now the matter has been scheduled to September 14.

Recently, to maintain the salubrious and pristine environment of the State, Himachal Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur banned the use of plastic/thermocol cutlery.

Following the footsteps of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh also issued a ban on plastic hailing from July 15. Uttar Pradesh became the second state after Maharashtra to enforce a ban on plastic in recent days.