Belagavi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI) has strongly opposed the State government’s decision to impose a blanket ban on plastic carry bags and other plastic items without specifying its thickness. BCCI members, who staged a demonstration in front of the DC’s to protest against the government’s draft notification, pointed out that the Centre had notified plastic waste management rules. It had also banned use of plastic carry bags of less than 50 microns thickness as against the existing norms of less than 40 microns.
With the implementation of the draft notification of the State government, the small manufactures would have to pay a huge penalty which would be decided by the local civic body such as the City Municipality or Corporation or a panchayat body in rural areas if the plastic products were not disposed off in a prescribed manner. The government has also imposed a registration fee of Rs.48,000 per annum as “user fee” and “waste management fee” at various levels.
BCCI president Venkatesh Sarnobat, who submitted a memorandum, demanded that the government withdraw its draft notification. He, however, said that the government could initiate stringent action against manufacturers and sellers of plastic carry bags that are less than 50 microns in thickness.
