Assam Government Bans Single Use Plastics at State Secretariat

Guwahati, October 1, 2019:

The Government of Assam has imposed a complete ban on the use, manufacture, import, supply, store, transport, sale or distribution of plastic bags less than 50 microns, plastic cups with diameter less than 60 mm and thickness less than 50 microns, as well as short life PVC, in the premises of the State Secretariat, Janata Bhawan.

As per a notification issued by the Environment and Forest Department of Assam, single-use plastic water bottles will not be allowed in the office premises, including in meetings, conferences etc. Bottles made of metal, glass, bamboo, etc, are to be used instead.

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Water dispensers with paper cups are to be used for dispensing water in meetings, conferences, kiosks etc. Plastic spoons, forks, cups, glass, cling film, ketchup sauce or any other sachet, straws, plates are strictly not allowed in the premises.Alternate materials which do not have serious harm to the environment may be used in their place, the order further stated.

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It may be mentioned here that the Indian Government has begun a country-wide drive to rid the country of single use plastics. Massive anti-plastic drives have been organized on Gandhi Janyati (October 2) to create awareness about the environment-polluting substance.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is leading efforts to scrap single-use plastics by 2022, is set to launch the campaign with a ban on as many as six items on October 2, the birth anniversary of 'father of the nation' Mahatma Gandhi.

In an Independence Day speech on August 15, Narendra Modi had urged people and government agencies to "take the first big step" on October 2 towards freeing India of single-use plastic.

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