By IANS,
New Delhi : Environmentalists Tuesday welcomed the Delhi government’s decision to impose a blanket ban on manufacture, sale, storage and usage of plastic bags in the capital city.
In a move to make Delhi a plastic free city, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Monday announced a blanket ban on plastic bags under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The law provides for imprisonment up to five years and fine up to Rs.100,000 or both to the violators.
The step has been hailed widely by environmentalists who see it as a beginning towards making the capital plastic free.
“It is the first time that a decision to ban the manufacturing of plastic bags has been taken. Delhi can become free of plastic bags only after the manufacturing is stopped,” said city based environmentalist Kushal Pal Singh Yadav.
Sharing the view, environmentalist Sunita Narain, who heads the Delh-based Centre for Science and Environment, said: “It is a good decision taken by the Delhi government.”
However, plastic manufacturers opposed the blanket ban.
“There will be negative impact of the decision as thousands of people working in this trade will lose their jobs,” said Ravi K. Aggarwal, president of All India Plastic Industries Association.
“We don’t think there is any alternative to plastic bags. Also, we want a proper debate on the issue before the government decides to impose any such a ban,” Aggarwal added.
The storage and usage of all kinds of plastic bags in certain notified places were banned by the Delhi government in January 2009 on the direction of the Delhi High Court.