The state government has decided to ban plastic carry-bags all over the state after Gudi Padwa in 2018.
Environment minister Ramdas Kadam announced it after a meeting at Mantralaya. Environment department Principal Secretary Satish Gawai, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board member-secretary PN Anbalagan and other officials were also present for the meet.
After heavy rains flooded Mumbai on August 29, it was found that various sub-urban areas were filled with plastic waste. Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray had demanded a complete ban on plastic bags. He had tweeted about the menace and said that plastic largely blocked the flow in drains.
BMC's solid waste management department had informed that it had to remove around 1900 MT of excess garbage on August 30, the day after heavy rains. The garbage mainly comprised plastic bags.
Kadam said that there will be meetings with senior officials at all municipal corporations and they will be asked to ban plastic bags in a phased manner all over the state. The minister informed that every district was being provided with stipulated funds for the Guardian Minister's innovative schemes and his department would pursue the same for providing funding for use of eco-friendly bags instead of plastic bags.
Kadam said that many non-governmental organisations had been asked to send their proposals for alternative bags so that plastic carry-bags can be banned. He said his department would provide subsidies for promoting cloth bags as an alternative. He said that women's self-help groups would be provided with a subsidy so that cloth bags could be manufactured in higher volumes. Kadam said that his department would promote it through the All India Radio, Door Darshan as well as FM channels.
Gawai said that the meeting was a preliminary one to explore the possibility for an alternative to plastic bags. He said although Gudi Padwa was a good six to seven months away, there would be a need to examine a possible amendment in the law.
Plastic menace
After heavy rains flooded Mumbai on August 29, it was found that various sub-urban areas were filled with plastic waste.
This waste clogs drains and interrupts flow of water, which leads to floods.
