Even before the administration could enforce the March 11 Government Order banning sale and manufacture of all kinds of plastic bags and other plastic items, a retail chain in Mangaluru stopped distribution and sale of plastic covers as well as carry bags on Wednesday.
Hitherto, customers of this retail chain were provided plastic covers free to pack vegetables and fruits while carry bags were available for a price. An executive with a More Supermarket (run by Aditya Birla Group) in the city said that the management has sent instructions to its units across the State to stop using plastic bags immediately.
Since not many stores in the city have abided by the new rule, customers are questioning the sudden changeover and sales personnel in the eight stores in Mangaluru are attempting hard to convince them, the executive said. Instead of plastic covers, the stores are providing pouches made of thick paper free while carry bags made of jute are provided for a price, he added.
Environmental damage
The March 11 Government Order said that plastic carry bags and other plastic items used in daily life cause short as well as long-term environmental damage and health hazards. The State is duty bound to protect and improve the environment under Article 48 A of the Constitution, the Government Order said.
Hence, the government issued the order under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 banning manufacture and sale of various plastic bags and sheets. The banned plastic items include carry bags, buntings, flex, flags, plates, cups, spoons, cling films, sheets used for spreading on dining tables, irrespective of thickness.
However, the order has exempted certain categories of plastic bags and sheets. They include carry bags exclusively manufactured for export at an SEZ and exports-oriented unit; bags which form an integral part of packaging; bags and sheets used in forestry and horticultural nurseries and packaging material for dairy products.
Enforcement authorities
The Government Order has empowered senior officials of local bodies, Deputy Commissioners of districts, environmental officers of the State Pollution Control Board, Assistant Commissioners of revenue sub-divisions, Tahsildars, officers of Commercial Taxes, Food and Civil Supplies and Legal Metrology departments to enforce the ban.
Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim told The Hindu that the administration is yet to formally receive the Government Order. By the weekend, arrangements should be in place to enforce the ban, after the order is received, he said.
