New Delhi: The Delhi government on Monday decided
to impose a blanket ban on the manufacture, storage and use of
plastic bags in the city.
The Delhi Cabinet presided by Chief Minister Sheila
Dikshit took the decision and directed all the concerned
authorities like MCD, NDMC and Environment Department to
implement the decision.
Officials said there were hundreds of units
manufacturing plastic bags and they would be closed down after
a notification is issued.
"We have decided to impose a blanket ban on
manufacturing, storage and use of plastic bags in the
capital," Dikshit told reporters.
Earlier following a court order, the city government
in 2009 had banned use of plastic bags in the city but the ban
was not effective as the manufacturing units were functioning.
The Delhi government had in January 2009 imposed a
ban on the use of plastic bags in various markets, shopping
malls, hotels and hospitals but it has not been very
effective. About 250 traders have been fined in the last two
years for violating the ban.
Various environmental NGOs have been pressing for
shutting down such units.
PTI
First Published: Monday, April 04, 2011, 14:46