Question : BAN ON USE OF POLYTHENE BAGS

(a) whether the Government has banned the polythene bags in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government is carrying out any awareness campaign to check the use of polythene bags;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) whether the Government has fixed any norms in regard to the manufacturing of polythenes and if so, the details thereof;

(f) the provision of penal action in case of violating the said norms; and

(g) the number of such cases which have come to notice in which punishment has been given for violating the said norms?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)

(a) to (g): There is no proposal to ban polythene bags in the country. However, some State Governments have restricted/banned the use of plastic carry bags in their respective States. Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has notified the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011. MoEF has written to the State Governments/Union Territories, Ministry of Urban Development, Central Pollution Control Board and State Pollution Control Boards/ Pollution Control Committees to ensure implementation of the Rules. MoEF is providing financial assistance for conducting training and awareness programs for various stakeholders pertaining to municipal solid waste including plastic waste management. These Rules have specified, inter-alia, that plastic carry bags should have a minimum thickness of 40 microns, food stuffs cannot be packed in recycled plastics or compostable plastics and no carry bags shall be made available free of cost to consumers. Under these Rules, State Pollution Control Boards or Pollution Control Committees are responsible for enforcement of provisions related to registration, manufacture and recycling. The municipal authorities are responsible for enforcement of provisions related to use, collection, segregation, transportation and disposal of plastic waste. Under the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the contravention of these Rules is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years, with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees or with both. State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees have been asked to take action against the violators of these Rules.