Stop import of plastic carrybags less than 50 micron-Committee

Kolkata, Jul 26 (UNI) Plastic carry bags measuring less than 20 micron in thickness was banned by the Centre when the Plastic Rule, 1999, was passed but little has been done to implement it till now.

The Centre for Quality Management System(CQMS), Jadavpur University Prof Sadhan Ghosh today demanded that import of plastic carry bags of thickness less than 50 micron and smaller than 250mm X 225mm should be stopped from neighbouring states and countries, including Nepal.

Mr Ghosh alleged that plastic carry bags of any thickness starting from 5 micron and of dimension less than 250mm X 225mm are blatantly produced and sold in the market.

The 'Review Committee for Destination Plastic Carry Bags' passed a series of recommendations, among which it has pressed the state government to pass the Anti-litter Bill as soon as possible.

The members of the committee also rued the fact that the state did not have a plastic waste management system in place.

Mr Ghosh said the review committee recommended that every manufacturer, trader, whole seller, retailer or user shall discontinue the use of polythene carry bags of less than 50 micron in thickness for packaging, handling, storage, carrying or for any other purposes in West Bengal in a phased manner.

More than 2000 tonnes of plastic bags worth Rs 180 crores are being transacted per month in West Bengal annually.

The recommendations will be forwarded to the Centre, West Bengal government, Kolkata Municipal Corporation(KMC) and state and Central Pollution Control boards.

The KMC in association with CQMS, NGOs and environmentalists will carry out awareness programmes on controlled use of plastics at various market places, schools, local TV channels and hoardings.

UNI SP PL RN1716