The Kiphire Town Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KTCCI) has banned use of plastic and polythene bags within Kiphire town from January 1.
In a release on Tuesday, KTCC general secretary Tsalichum S Sangtam said the ban had been imposed in continuation of its resolution taken at a general meeting with all business establishments on December 9 last year in Kiphire to ban use or sale of plastic and polythene bags within Kiphire town.
It was also part of KTCCI “safe environment and Kiphire polythene free-town” initiative, the release said.
The KTCCI said any packages used in place of plastics or polythene by business establishments should have its approval. It warned to take stringent action against defaulters.
The Nagaland government on July 28 last year notified its policy for restricting the use of plastics in the state to eradicate the serious environmental and ecological challenges posed by rampant use of such items.
The state cabinet gave its approval to ban use of plastics in the state at a meeting held on November 26 last year.
All single-use plastics less than 50 microns, specially plastic bags and plastic cutleries including styrofoam and thermocol disposable plates, were banned from December 1, 2018.
The notification asked the government offices to stop using packaged drinking water bottles, below 20 litres capacity, by April 1, 2019.
The government said alternatives like filtered water dispensers and reverse osmosis plants would be introduced while the government servants would be encouraged to carry reusable drinking water bottles.
The notification said the village councils and municipal bodies will be sensitised to take proactive action for discouraging use of plastics in their jurisdiction and they can decide on the issue of levying penalties for continued use of single-use plastics in their jurisdiction.