SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Dec 15: Deoghar district administration has served an ultimatum to traders either deposit single–use plastic items in the Municipal Corporation office by December 31or face the music as per Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2021.
While issuing the notification, Deoghar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Manjunath Bhajantri said that as per rule, manufacturing, import, stocking, distribution, selling, and using plastic carry bags of less than 75 microns thickness are banned in the municipal area from 2022.
“So common people and traders have been informed to shun plastic items and use jute, paper and cloth-made bags in its place,” said the DC.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change, Government of India, has prohibited identified single-use plastic items having low utility and high littering potentials by 2022.
“Since only 15 days are left for imposing a complete ban on single-use plastic, the district administration has directed to deposit all stored items by December 31 in the municipal corporation otherwise it would invite legal action,” said an official of the district administration.
The DC further said that besides single-use plastic, the use of thermocol plates has also been banned as it increases the chances of cancer disease. So, the administration has appealed to the people to use only leaf-made plates.
“Those traders who have plastic bags should deposit them in the office of Municipal Corporation and help in making Deoghar plastic free. After the deadline, the district administration will take legal action as per Plastic Waste Management ( amendment) Rules 2021 and different sections of Jharkhand Municipal Act if any trader or common man is caught using, storing, selling, distributing, stocking single-use plastic in the municipal area,” said the DC.
For the promotion of leaf plates and bowls, the district administration has already started using them in official functions right from district headquarters to Panchayat level and officials use them every Sunday.
