SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Dec 24: After Deoghar, the Dhanbad Municipal Corporation (DMC) has become the second civic body in the state to enforce a complete ban on single-use plastic less than 75 microns from January 1, 2022.
In this regard, the DMC has issued notice to traders of the Municipal area to surrender the stored plastic bags less than 75 microns in the civic body ( DMC) office to avoid legal action. The action would be taken under Plastic Waste Management (Amendment ) Rules 2021.
Till date, there was a ban on the use of less than 50 microns plastic bags across the state. But now the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India has banned the usage of polybags less than 75 microns in municipal corporation areas from January 1, 2022 across the country.
“Under Amendment Rules 2021 manufacturing, storing, selling, distributing, and using plastic bags less than 75 microns are banned. If any trader or people are caught using less than 75 microns, they would have to face legal action under Rules. So DMC has asked traders to surrender the stored poly bags in the civic body office before the deadline,” said a DMC official.
He further said that besides less than 75 microns poly bag, the use of thermocol plates and bowls are also banned as it invites fatal disease. “In place of thermocol made items, DMC has suggested people to use leaf made plates in social and family functions.”
However, this notice by DMC has triggered sharp protests from the district’s Federation of District Chamber and Commerce (FDCC).
FDCC patron Dr Rajesh Gupta said that the notice is nothing but a way to harass traders. It has been seen for years that DMC officials complete the formality by raiding small-scale traders such as Gumtiwala, vegetable vendors and others.
“Rather than raiding one lakh traders, the central government should close the factory which produces it. Central government agencies know very well which factories make less than 75 microns poly bags,” added Rajesh Gupta.
