MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
***
Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 173 to be answered on 12th February, 2021 on “Ban on Single-use Plastic” by Shri P.C. Mohan.
(a) to (b): A multi-pronged strategy has been adopted for implementing the announcement of Hon’ble Prime Minister on World Environment Day in 2018 to phase out Single-use plastic (SUP) by 2022. The strategy comprises of (i) Awareness generation and behavioural change, (ii) regulatory regime for phase out of identified single use plastic items under Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016, (iii) engagement with central ministries, State Governments, Local Bodiesfor better enforcement and wider penetration of alternatives to single use plastic items, (iii) engagement with industry and industry associationsfor assistance and capacity building, and (iv) strengthening of institutional mechanism for enforcement of PWM Rules.Already under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, plastic carry bag and sheets less than fifty microns in thickness have been prohibited. There is complete ban on sachets using plastic material used for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala. Further, the single use plastic items to be phased out by 2022 have been identified on the basis of report of the Expert Committee constituted by Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals on ‘Single Use Plastic’.
(c) The Ministry had also issued “Standard Guidelines for Single-Use Plastic” on 21st January 2019 to all States/UTs and Ministries. The Standard guidelines entails waste management system improvements, legal options for States/UTs to prohibit SUP items through regulatory measures, eco-friendly alternatives, social awareness and public education. The guidelines also included measures to be taken by government offices. 32 States/UTs have issued notifications/orders introducing regulations pertaining to complete or partial ban on plastic carry bags and/or identified single-use plastic items details are annexed. CPCB has issued directions under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, to all States/UTs for setting up for institutional mechanism for strengthening enforcement of PWM Rules. Guidelines for assessment of Environmental Compensation for Violation of PWM Rules 2016 have also been issued.
(d) The Government has taken the following steps to sensitize people against the use of single use plastic leading to its gradual elimination are as follows: -
• A three-phase campaign “Swachhta Hi Sewa” was undertaken in 2019 where citizens collected Single Use Plastic from the houses, streets etc. and deposited the waste at designated locations for recycling.
• Further, for spreading awareness among the coastal cities and towns, beach cleaning drive was also taken up across 50 beaches.
• Under the National Green Corps (NGC) programme of the Ministry, about one lakh schools have been identified as Eco-clubs, wherein, nearly thirty lakh students are actively participating in various environment protection and conservation activities including plastic waste management.
• The Ministry and CPCB have held extensive interactions with the industry and industry associations on issues related to phasing out of single use plastic.
***
Download PDF Files
