citizens don’t know when they are violating the ban, when they are not
The Maharashtra Plastic and Thermocol Products (Manufacture, Usage, Sale, Transport, Handling and Storage) Notification, 2018, which came about in late March, talks tough. It restricts manufacturing, usage, storage, distribution, wholesale and retail sale, import and transportation of all kinds of plastic bags, disposable cutlery, straws, non-woven polypropylene bags, plastic sheets or pouches and plastic films in Maharashtra.
But the state government has repeatedly changed the rules of the game since then. Unrealistically, only one month was given for enforcing the ban initially. Within a week, though, the government without explanation watered it down. Then, rules were relaxed for wholesalers and retailers. Following high-level lobbying, reportedly by multi-national companies and plastics firms, the state government allowed e-commerce firms three months’ time to make the shift. Low-grade plastic bottles have been allowed to stay in the market if the manufacturers agree to offer buyback and recycle options. Branded packaging could slip through. But if the plastics used by small players such as street vendors and neighbourhood shops pollute, don’t those from the bigger players do likewise?
The industry has been left confused; citizens don’t know when they are violating the ban, when they are not.
But the state government has repeatedly changed the rules of the game since then. Unrealistically, only one month was given for enforcing the ban initially. Within a week, though, the government without explanation watered it down. Then, rules were relaxed for wholesalers and retailers. Following high-level lobbying, reportedly by multi-national companies and plastics firms, the state government allowed e-commerce firms three months’ time to make the shift. Low-grade plastic bottles have been allowed to stay in the market if the manufacturers agree to offer buyback and recycle options. Branded packaging could slip through. But if the plastics used by small players such as street vendors and neighbourhood shops pollute, don’t those from the bigger players do likewise?
The industry has been left confused; citizens don’t know when they are violating the ban, when they are not.
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Last 5 years there was careless throwing of thermocol plates and glasses every villages, every place after party and marriages etc. This has to be arrested to save the mother earth. I feel the steps taken are important. One side we may generate fund by producing such items, but the larger negative impact on society is much more than employment generated or jobs lost.
Jul 12
Govt itself is not firm and keeps on changing,with the result general public gets confused.
Jul 07
If there is any plastic packaging , seen in any of the products, people have stop buying them, until the rest are completely followed. Mother Nature comes first, before our needs.
Jul 07
I feel we citizens, instead of waiting for the useless govt. notification as love for the country we should understand the seriousness of of plastic usage (ie. bad) and start using the alternatives which are readily available in the market which will become very cheap on its mass usage. Again, repeating, love the country and forget the useless govt.
Jul 06
A good step to save environment & control pollution is messed up with these frequent changes in rules which are beyond rationale , which makes us to believe the common saying in the public "All this is a farce to collect election fund"
Jul 06
