Times of India
21.11.12
Plastic ban to begin
with carry bags only
NEW DELHI: The ban on plastic bags will finally be
imposed in the city on November 23 but for the time being, only carry bags will be outlawed.
The ban, notified in October, says that no person shall manufacture, import, store, sell or transport any kind of plastic bag in the area that makes up the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. It stipulates that no person, including a shopkeeper, vendor, wholesaler, retailer, trader and hawker, shall sell or store or use any kind of plastic carry bag for storing or dispensing eatables or non-eatable goods or materials. However, in the absence of viable alternatives, government officials said that they cannot clamp down on packaging material and will only start with carry bags.
"Nothing is likely to change overnight but this time we are hopeful that the ban will be more effective. More agencies have been roped in to carry out raids and we will start by making examples of big stores and shops to discourage others from using the bags," said an official from the environment department.
Manufacturing of plastic bags will also come to a complete halt in the capital from Friday. "This is one area where we will not allow any leniency. The manufacturers have gone to court with the issue but so far there are no directions and we will proceed as per our law," said the official.
This is the second effort by the Delhi government to ban the plastic bag. In its first attempt in 2009 it had failed to make any dent in the usage of plastic bags as monitoring has been the sole headache of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.
"The department continues to be short of manpower which is why more agencies have been roped in. Certain segments like big stores will also be monitored first. Our idea is not to imprison or fine people and also do not want the law to turn into a tool for harassment for small vendors and shopkeepers," said a government official.
The earlier version of the ban had implied that no plastic bags, including packaging material was to be permitted. This included garbage disposal bags, carry bags without handles and plastic bags used in grocery stores for storing spices and pulses. With no clear alternative in mind, the government will be holding a meeting with stakeholders to decide on the implementation of the ban.
"We have switched to bags without handles for selling meat but are still not sure whether this is permitted or not," said Abdul Qureshi, a meat seller in Lakshmi Nagar. Others like Bhim Singh who runs a small dhaba in east Delhi have switched to plastic containers.
"It is slightly more expensive but so far we haven't had the need to hike prices. Int e long run we may have to consider that option," he said.
The ban, notified in October, says that no person shall manufacture, import, store, sell or transport any kind of plastic bag in the area that makes up the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. It stipulates that no person, including a shopkeeper, vendor, wholesaler, retailer, trader and hawker, shall sell or store or use any kind of plastic carry bag for storing or dispensing eatables or non-eatable goods or materials. However, in the absence of viable alternatives, government officials said that they cannot clamp down on packaging material and will only start with carry bags.
"Nothing is likely to change overnight but this time we are hopeful that the ban will be more effective. More agencies have been roped in to carry out raids and we will start by making examples of big stores and shops to discourage others from using the bags," said an official from the environment department.
Manufacturing of plastic bags will also come to a complete halt in the capital from Friday. "This is one area where we will not allow any leniency. The manufacturers have gone to court with the issue but so far there are no directions and we will proceed as per our law," said the official.
This is the second effort by the Delhi government to ban the plastic bag. In its first attempt in 2009 it had failed to make any dent in the usage of plastic bags as monitoring has been the sole headache of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.
"The department continues to be short of manpower which is why more agencies have been roped in. Certain segments like big stores will also be monitored first. Our idea is not to imprison or fine people and also do not want the law to turn into a tool for harassment for small vendors and shopkeepers," said a government official.
The earlier version of the ban had implied that no plastic bags, including packaging material was to be permitted. This included garbage disposal bags, carry bags without handles and plastic bags used in grocery stores for storing spices and pulses. With no clear alternative in mind, the government will be holding a meeting with stakeholders to decide on the implementation of the ban.
"We have switched to bags without handles for selling meat but are still not sure whether this is permitted or not," said Abdul Qureshi, a meat seller in Lakshmi Nagar. Others like Bhim Singh who runs a small dhaba in east Delhi have switched to plastic containers.
"It is slightly more expensive but so far we haven't had the need to hike prices. Int e long run we may have to consider that option," he said.
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