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Srinagar, June 1 (UNI) In compliance with the Jammu and Kashmir High Court directions, the state government today imposed a complete ban on entry, use and sale of polythene bags at all tourist places and hospitals in the Valley.

An official spokesman said that Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Basharat Ahmed has imposed the ban on polythene carry bags, particularly of less than 20 microns, at the tourist resorts of Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, in and around the Dal Lake, Mughal Gardens and hospitals from today.

Polythene is of non-degradable nature and hazardous for both human health and the environment, he added.

The spokesman said the ban has been imposed in the public interest. All shopkeepers, traders, management of hotels and other establishments in these prohibited areas should restrain from selling, trading and the using polythene carry bags, he added.

''Any person found violating the ban in these restricted areas would be dealt with strictly under law,'' he added.

The High Court had earlier banned the use of polythene bags in and around the Dal Lake and all the tourist places in the Valley to save the environment at these places of recreation.

UNI AG PA RN1922