New Delhi: Stepping up its drive against use of hazardous plastic bags in the national capital, Delhi government has asked the enforcing agencies to crack down on the owners of the shops selling the items within the market areas, including those in the walled city.
The officials have been asked to carry out intensive enforcement drive at the wholesale markets of plain plastic bags at Sadar Bazaar, Kharibowli and Khurshid Market.
"So far, the drive had been focussed on prosecuting the consumers of the plastic bags. But for effective implementation of the law there is a need to curb the source. Hence, now we have asked the enforcing agencies to keep an eye on the shops selling plastic bags in the market areas," a senior official said.
At a meeting held recently, Delhi Environment Secretary
Dharmendra also stressed that the local bodies like MCD, NDMC,
and the Sub Divisional Magistrates should implement the ban
vigorously in their area.
Pulling up the agencies for poor implementation, the
Secretary also categorically told them that the sale, storage
and use of all kinds of plastic bags are prohibited in the
notified places. "This is irrespective of the size labelled as
more than 40 microns or even if it is bio-degradable," a
senior official said.
As complaints were also received that Mother Dairy
outlets spread across the city too were violating the law by
selling vegetables and food items in such bags, the
representatives of Food and Civil Supplies Department have
been asked to ensure a complete ban there, the official said.
According to the notification issued by the state
government in January, use, storage and sale of plastic bags
of any kind or thickness, in all places where one gets the
bags after shopping, are banned.
Anyone guilty of breaching the ban faces a maximum
penalty of Rs 1 lakh or five years' imprisonment or both, says
the Environment Protection Act.
So far, the government has registered cases against 50
people with one of them penalised by the court recently.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, November 22, 2009, 13:38