Will the UP plastic ban sustain this time?
Lucknow, July 7: The Uttar Pradesh government has banned the use of polythene bags and items of common use made of plastic from July 15, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said.
"We have decided to ban plastic in the entire state from July 15," he said on Twitter.
"I appeal that after July 15 plastic cups, glasses and polythene should not be used at any level. This will need the cooperation of all of you," the message in Hindi, released by the CM's office, said.
Adityanath's tweet did not give further details.
When contacted, officials said the modalities of the ban were being worked out and the concerned department has been asked to submit a blueprint as soon as possible, after which a meeting will be held with the chief minister.
Details were being worked out to ensure that the ban can be enforced effectively, officials said.
Plastic has been "banned" earlier in the state, but the prohibition on its use has not been implemented effectively so far.
In December 2015, when the Akhilesh Yadav government was in power, the state Cabinet decided on an absolute ban on distribution, manufacture and sale of plastic and polythene bags with a thickness of more than 40 microns.
However,
by
January
2016
many
areas,
including
Noida
on
Delhi's
outskirts,
had
failed
to
adhere
to
the
guidelines
and
the
ban
could
not
be
implemented
seriously.
It
is
not
immediately
clear
if
there
are
any
exemptions
to
the
latest
ban
and
no
penalties
have
been
announced.
The chief minister made the initial announcement earlier in the day in Barabanki while addressing a van mahotsav'.
"We have issued an order banning use of plastic in the entire state from July 15," he said there.
"I appeal to the people not to use cups and glasses made of plastic and polythene from July 15. All of us have should work together for this," he said.
The UP government's latest move comes within days of a similar ban coming into effect in Maharashtra.
The
Maharashtra
government
announced
on
March
23
a
ban
on
manufacture,
use,
sale,
distribution
and
storage
of
plastic
materials
such
as
bags,
spoons,
plates
and
PET
bottles.
The
ban
in
that
state
came
into
effect
on
June
23,
but
the
government
later
eased
some
of
the
restrictions.
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