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Violation Of Single-Use Plastic Ban Will Invite Fine, Jail Term: Delhi Environment Minister

Teams of the DPCC, Revenue Department and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will conduct inspections, create awareness and issue warning notices against those not complying with the single-use plastic ban till July 10

Also Read: Amul Urges Environment Ministry To Postpone Plastic Straw Ban By One Year
The 'Green Delhi' mobile application has been updated to file complaints regarding violation of the ban on single-use plastic items

New Delhi: Delhi government will issue warning notices to units found violating the ban on 19 single-use plastic (SUP) items till July 10 and punitive action will be taken thereafter against repeat offenders, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Friday (July 1). Action will include a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh or a jail term of up to five years or both under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, he said. However, the government will give top priority to creating awareness against the use of SUP items and providing their alternatives to people, he said.

Also Read: Single-Use Plastic Ban From July 1: What Are The Banned Items, Changes And Penalty Amount?

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) had earlier issued strict directions to manufacturers, stockists, suppliers and distributors of SUP items to ensure zero inventory of the banned commodities, including packaging films and plastic cutlery, by June 30.

Many people believe that setting up enforcement teams, imposing fines and closing down (defaulting) units will make the ban successful. Our government thinks differently… Our aim is to create awareness and provide alternatives to people before enforcing the ban, the minister said.

The ban comes into effect when the unemployment rate is high. It is going to affect a large number of manufacturers, distributors and sellers of SUP items. Many people will find it difficult to make their ends meet. These people are our own, Mr Rai said while launching a three-day fair at Thyagraj Stadium here to promote alternatives to SUP items.

Teams of the DPCC, Revenue Department and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will conduct inspections, create awareness and issue warning notices against those not complying with the ban till July 10.

Punitive action will be taken after July 10 against the repeat offenders…Violation of the ban will invite a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh or jail term up to 5 years or both under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, he said.

The Revenue Department and the DPCC have constituted 33 and 15 teams, respectively, to ensure enforcement of the ban.

Also Read: Single-Use Plastic Ban: Large FMCG, Agro-Food Companies Switch To Paper-Based Straws

The DPCC will ensure compliance with the ban in confirming areas, and MCD and other local bodies will be responsible for its implementation in the informal sector, officials said.

The MCD and other urban local bodies will act against the defaulting units according to their bylaws while the Revenue department will take action under the Environment Protection Act.

An official said the Environment Department will monitor the implementation of the ban through the “Green War Room” which was setup in October 2020 to keep a tab on air pollution levels and address related complaints.

The ‘Green Delhi’ mobile application has also been updated to file complaints regarding violation of the ban on SUP items.

Also Read: Gave Enough Time To Industry, People To Prepare For Ban On Single-Use Plastic: Union Minister Bhupender Yadav

Delhi generates 1,060 tonnes of plastic waste per day. Single-use plastic is estimated to be 5.6 per cent (or 56 kg per metric tonnes) of the total solid waste in the capital.

On August 12 last year, the Union Environment Ministry had issued a notification prohibiting the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified SUP commodities, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, from July 1, 2022.

The identified SUP items include earbuds, plastic sticks for balloons, flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol), plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrapping or packaging films around sweets boxes, invitation cards, cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners of less than 100 microns, and stirrers.

The thickness of plastic carry bags will have to be increased from 75 microns to 120 microns from December 31.

Also Read: Amul Urges Environment Ministry To Postpone Plastic Straw Ban By One Year

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ populationindigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (WaterSanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollutionwaste managementplastic banmanual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.

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