The Nagaland government on Thursday announced to impose total ban on single-use plastic in the state following approval of the state cabinet on June 10.
The order has been issued in continuation to the state government’s earlier notification dated 29.11.2018 on the “policy for restricting the use of plastics in Nagaland”.
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“The Governor of Nagaland is pleased to impose total ban on all single-use plastic in Nagaland with a view to eradicate the menace of plastic and the serious environmental and ecological challenges posed by rampant use of plastics,” secretary to the Nagaland government, N. Nyanbemo Tsanglao, said in a notification on Thursday.
However, the ban will be made effective after three months from the date of publication in official gazette dated June 17, 2019 in public interest and for the manufacturers, stockiest, shopkeepers to dispose of their stocks so that they suffer no financial loss.
The notification said all single-use plastic products such as plastic carry bags, with or without handles, irrespective of thickness and size, plastic cutlery, including plates, plastic cups, straw, stirrer, etc., cutlery and other decorative made of styrofoam (thermocol), polythene, nylon, poly-vinyl-carbohydrates, poly-propylene and poly-Styrene have been totally banned.
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“Single-use plastics, often also referred to as disposable plastics (use-and-throw items), are commonly used for plastic packaging and include items intended to be used only once before they are thrown away or recycled. These include, among other items, carry bags, food packaging, bottles. Straws, containers, cups and cutlery,” it said.
The notification said every individual, institutions or commercial establishments like educational institutions, offices, hotels, shops, restaurants, religious institutions, industrial establishments, banquet halls etc. will abide by the total ban. It warned any breach of the ban will be liable for penalties.
The notification said the district administration or local bodies will decide and levy penalties against the defaulters in their jurisdiction.
The District Task Force already constituted in the districts will strictly monitor and function as squads for vigilance purpose and impose total ban on stocking, distribution, sell and use of oil single-use plastics, it added.