Highlights
- No plastic manufactured since ban was announced: Ramdas Kadam
- Next hearing of the High Court on appeal against the ban is on July 28
- Ban to result in job losses for nearly 4 lakh people: Plastic Industry
New Delhi: The government has ensured successfully that no plastic was manufactured, ever since the ban on plastic was announced on March 23, said Maharashtra Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam said at an exhibition organised by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to showcase eco-friendly alternatives to plastic. He added that he had personally approached a plastic manufacturer who told him that no manufacture of plastic has taken place ever since the ban was announced.
The Bombay High Court is hearing an appeal filed by All India Plastic Manufacturers Association (AIPMA), which had requested the court to look into the suddenness of the ban’s imposition. As per the plastic manufacturing industry, the state is set to lose up to Rs 5,000 crore and nearly 4 lakh people will be rendered jobless. At hearing of the case today, the Court has adjourned the matter and will hear it again on July 20. The manufacturers have been expecting some sort of relief in terms of either more time given to them to enforce the ban, or financial assistance to those who have already invested in purchasing raw materials. The manufacturers are also expecting the High Court to decide on the future of those who are set to lose their jobs due to the enforcement of the ban.
Ever since the ban on manufacturing, sale and possession of plastic was announced by the Maharashtra government, plastic manufacturers in the state have requested the state government for relaxation in the rules. A meeting held between representatives of the state government and plastic manufacturers failed to provide any concrete solution. Despite the acceptance of a detailed report on the ban’s impact, the state government did not promise to relax the ban. The Bombay High Court too, on April 13, refused to stay the ban and set June 22 as the date to hear the matter again, which has now been adjourned for July 20.
