AIPMA shocked over ban on plastic bags

Mumbai, Mar 1: All India Plastics Manufacturers' Association (AIPMA) has expressed its resentment over the Maharashtra Government's ordinance banning the plastic bags in the State.

AIPMA President Ajay Desai, in a release issued here today (Mar 1, 2006), described the ban on plastics of below 50 micron thickness shocking, unexpected and unthoughtful and said it is completely against the interests of the plastic industry.

He said the plastic manufacturers are disappointed with the ordinance and regretted that this will only throw the industry out of gear, registering voluminous losses not only to general public, but also to the State Government.

Mr Desai alleged that no representative of the industry or environmental expert was included in the committee which drafted the ordinance.

He said they had met Chief Minister Vilas Rao Deshmukh.

Russia link counters mistrust raised by UN report and other officials and explained them the implications of banning all types of plastic bags.

"Also, by imposing ban on plastic bags, the Government is only diverting the attention of public from the real cause, non-implementation of Ministry of Environment and Forest's rule and inadequate collection and disposal of ever-growing quantum of garbage," he said.

The State Government had yesterday issued the Maharashtra Bio-degradable Garbage (Control) Ordinance, 2006, banning plastic bags of less than 50 micron thickenss and less than 8 x 12 inch in size, with immediate effect.

Violation of the ordinance will attract a penalty of Rs 5,000 on the first occasion, sources said. A second-time defaulter will be fined Rs 10,000 while penalty for three or more violations would Rs 25,000 and also imprisonment upto three months, sources added.

The ban on plastic bags comes in the wake of large hue and cry raised after the July 26 deluge last year, which was blamed on the use of plastic bags.

After the deluge, the Government decided to make Maharashtra plastic-free and called for objections and recommendations from the public.

UNI