Haryana bans plastic carry bags

Chandigarh, Jan 2 (UNI) The Haryana government today decided to ban manufacture of plastic carry bags having thickness of less than 30 microns and size less than 8x12 inches in the state ''in view of their detrimental effect on environment and local ecology''.

A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of the State Cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda here.

The cabinet also decided to impose a complete ban on use of all types of plastic articles within municipal limits of Thanesar and Kurukshera towns, all wildlife sanctuaries and national parks and Gram Panchayat, Morni.

It approved a notification imposing the ban by directing that no person would manufacture plastic carry bags having the aforementioned thickness and size.

The notification also banned the use of all types of plastic articles like carry bags (irrespective of their thickness and size), plates, cups, tumblers, spoons, forks and straws within the municipal limits of Thanesar and Kurukshetra towns, all wildlife sanctuaries and national parks and Gram Panchayat, Morni in view of their special historical, religious and ecological significance.

It was also observed in the meeting that the polythene bags caused clogging of water and sewerage drains, affected the system of water recharge due to impermeable surface of plastic and provided breeding ground for pathogenic microorganisms.

These also led to destruction of aesthetic visual values, transfer toxicity to food stuffs when carried in colored bags and cause air pollution during the process of bruning or recycling of plastic and posed a threat to the health of animals who might eat plastic alongwith other material, it was noted.

Besides, plastic bags transfer toxicity to various layers of soil.

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