Fine for banned plastic bags may be raised to 1L

The Times of India , Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Correspondent : Praveen Jose
GURGAON: In addition to its blanket ban on all unlicensed plastic bag manufacturers across Haryana, the state government may soon raise the maximum fine for stocking plastic bags below the recommended 40-micron thickness from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh. In doing so, they hope to convey their seriousness about enforcing the ban. This follows orders from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to the effect, both in December 2014. Authorities, including the urban local bodies department (ULB) and the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), will be roped in for the effort.

The ULB on April 7 already asked all deputy commissioners to ensure a blanket ban on sale of substandard plastic bags, by pressing fines on shop owners found stocking or selling them.

According to a senior official, the ULB order came after CPCB raised concerns about a sudden rise in use of plastic bags in major cities of Haryana, including Gurgaon and Faridabad. "After concerns were raised by CPCB, we directed municipal corporations to crack down on plastic manufacturing units and impose fines on shop owners who flout the order. As per the 2013 notification on storing plastic bags that do not meet the norms, the maximum fine that could be imposed was Rs 25,000. We're now in discussions with HSPCB and municipal corporations to raise it to Rs 1 lakh. We'll have teams with two officials from a municipality and one from HSPCB to carry out enforcement drives in the coming weeks," he said.

ULB's directive (a copy is with TOI) reads: "It is to be ensured that all illegal and unregistered units manufacturing substandard (less than 40-micron thickness) plastic carry bags, be closed down immediately with the help of the local administration and police, including disconnection of electricity".

ULB director Pankaj Agarwal told TOI the state pollution control board had asked ULB to ensure compliance by February. "We've now ordered all deputy commissioners and municipal corporation heads to furnish a compliance report," he said. He added that in Gurgaon alone, there are over 25 plastic manufacturing units.

A senior HSPCB official disagreed said, "Plastic manufacturing units in Gurgaon are all industrial, and in the clear. There are no plastic bag manufacturers here.

In a recent city-wide enforcement drive to check sale of plastic bags, we fined 11 people and recovered close to Rs 2 lakh in fines."

He added he did not feel imposing heavier fines would stop rampant use of substandard plastic bags. "Spreading awareness about plastic and urging a move to eco-friendly paper or cloth carry bags is needed simultaneously. We've tied up with NGOs to hold awareness campaigns on World Environment Day on June 5 at HUDA sector markets, shopping complexes and malls. We've already noticed a marked change during our enforcement drives, where shop owners at malls are already using alternatives, and customers don't mind paying Rs 5-10 extra for it," he said.

Deputy commissionGURGAON: In addition to its blanket ban on all unlicensed plastic bag manufacturers across Haryana, the state government may soon raise the maximum fine for stocking plastic bags below the recommended 40-micron thickness from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh. In doing so, they hope to convey their seriousness about enforcing the ban. This follows orders from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to the effect, both in December 2014. Authorities, including the urban local bodies department (ULB) and the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), will be roped in for the effort.

The ULB on April 7 already asked all deputy commissioners to ensure a blanket ban on sale of substandard plastic bags, by pressing fines on shop owners found stocking or selling them.

According to a senior official, the ULB order came after CPCB raised concerns about a sudden rise in use of plastic bags in major cities of Haryana, including Gurgaon and Faridabad. "After concerns were raised by CPCB, we directed municipal corporations to crack down on plastic manufacturing units and impose fines on shop owners who flout the order. As per the 2013 notification on storing plastic bags that do not meet the norms, the maximum fine that could be imposed was Rs 25,000. We're now in discussions with HSPCB and municipal corporations to raise it to Rs 1 lakh. We'll have teams with two officials from a municipality and one from HSPCB to carry out enforcement drives in the coming weeks," he said.

ULB's directive (a copy is with TOI) reads: "It is to be ensured that all illegal and unregistered units manufacturing substandard (less than 40-micron thickness) plastic carry bags, be closed down immediately with the help of the local administration and police, including disconnection of electricity".

ULB director Pankaj Agarwal told TOI the state pollution control board had asked ULB to ensure compliance by February. "We've now ordered all deputy commissioners and municipal corporation heads to furnish a compliance report," he said. He added that in Gurgaon alone, there are over 25 plastic manufacturing units.

A senior HSPCB official disagreed said, "Plastic manufacturing units in Gurgaon are all industrial, and in the clear. There are no plastic bag manufacturers here.

In a recent city-wide enforcement drive to check sale of plastic bags, we fined 11 people and recovered close to Rs 2 lakh in fines."

He added he did not feel imposing heavier fines would stop rampant use of substandard plastic bags. "Spreading awareness about plastic and urging a move to eco-friendly paper or cloth carry bags is needed simultaneously. We've tied up with NGOs to hold awareness campaigns on World Environment Day on June 5 at HUDA sector markets, shopping complexes and malls. We've already noticed a marked change during our enforcement drives, where shop owners at malls are already using alternatives, and customers don't mind paying Rs 5-10 extra for it," he said.

Deputy commissioner T L Satyaprakash had a word of caution. "Raising the maximum fine to Rs 1 lakh won't deter shop owners. Hopefully, it will instill a sense of seriousness about the ban and its consequences."

"We need more suppliers of alternatives bags made of paper or cloth, etc to come forward. Subsidies to them, or even printing advertising on the bags, can be thought of as ways to promote them," he added.

er T L Satyaprakash had a word of caution. "Raising the maximum fine to Rs 1 lakh won't deter shop owners. Hopefully, it will instill a sense of seriousness about the ban and its consequences."

"We need more suppliers of alternatives bags made of paper or cloth, etc to come forward. Subsidies to them, or even printing advertising on the bags, can be thought of as ways to promote them," he added.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/Fine-for-banned-plastic-bags-may-be-raised-to-1L/articleshow/47422992.cms
 


Back to pevious page



The NetworkAbout Us  |  Our Partners  |  Concepts   
Resources :  Databases  |  Publications  |  Media Guide  |  Suggested Links
Happenings :  News  |  Events  |  Opinion Polls  |  Case Studies
Contact :  Guest Book  |  FAQs |  Email Us