Plastic Ban: Himachal Pradesh Joins Maharashtra And Uttar Pradesh, To Ban Thermocol Cutlery

New Delhi: After Maharashtra plastic ban that came into effect on June 23 and Uttar Pradesh which has set July 15 as the date to impose plastic ban, Himachal Pradesh Government is all set to follow suit. The state has announced a war against plastic and has announced the ban on the use of thermocol cutlery, including cups, plates, glasses and spoons. The notification was passed under Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1995 by the Governor, Acharya Devvrat on Saturday.

Himachal Pradesh Thermocol Ban: Time Frame For Enforcement

According to the notification, the ban will come into effect within three months’ time and will be applicable for both individuals and commercial establishments.

Himachal Pradesh Thermocol Cutlery Ban: Fines And Penalty

As per the notification, any person breaching the allotted time of three months is liable to pay anywhere between Rs 500 and Rs 25,000 as a penalty. The fines proposed vary depending on the quantity of plastic:

Up to 100gm – Rs 500
101 to 500 gm – Rs 1,500
501gm to 1kg- Rs 3,000
1.1kg to 5kg- Rs 10,000
5.1kg to 10 kg – Rs 20,000
More than 10 kg – Rs 25,000

Journey Of The Ban In The State

This is not the first time the state is trying to impose a ban on plastic. Himachal Pradesh was the first state in the country to ban the use of plastic bags in 2009. And, since then, the state government has been making continuous efforts to reduce the plastic waste in the towns and rural areas of the state.

Also Read: Polythene Hatao, Paryavaran Bachao: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur Launches A Campaign Against Plastic Bags

On World Environment Day, taking a step ahead, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had announced to impose a blanket ban on the use of plastic and thermocol cutlery in the State and launched a “Plastic Hatao Himachal Bachao” campaign.

A few days later, as a part of the campaign, the government directed all the government offices to stop using plastic water bottles. Moreover, it has also asked all the offices of different departments, corporations, and boards to discard the use of plastic water bottles.

Now, taking the next step, the state has passed the notification, to ban the use of thermocol cutlery after three months.