Chandigarh: Companies manufacturing single-use plastic in Haryana may face a major setback in case of violation of rules. Haryana state government has strictly warned that those factories violating directions may be closed and the shopkeepers’ licenses can be cancelled. According to a government spokesperson, single-use plastic is strictly banned in Haryana, despite this it is being used indiscriminately and now onward those violating directions will have to suffer heavy fines, to stop this, the state government has shown strictness. He warned that street vendors and shopkeepers will have to pay Rs 10 thousand and a fine of Rs 5,000 per tonne will be imposed for the first time violation by the industries as well as suppliers.
Commissioner and Secretary of Urban Local Bodies Department Vikas Gupta has issued orders in this regard. Not only this, CEOs of Zila Parishads, Social Education and Panchayat Officers and XENs, SDOs and JEs of Panchayati Raj Department have also been given the authority to take action against the accused. Taking a tough stand on this the state government has now made preparations to levy heavy fines on the producers and manufacturers of single use plastic as well as municipal corporations, councils, municipalities and panchayats by fixing accountability. While local bodies may have to pay up to Rs 1000 crore annually as environmental compensation according to the population, factories making single-use plastic will have to pay a fine of up to Rs 500 crore. Gram Panchayats will also have to pay up to Rs 50,000 as environmental compensation. According to orders, every local body will be responsible for developing or setting up infrastructure for segregation, collection, storage, transportation, processing and disposal of plastic either by itself or through an agency. Hefty fines will also be levied on those found burning plastic waste in the open.
Secretary of Urban Local Bodies Department Vikas Gupta said, factories were directed not to manufacture carry bags made of unused or recycled plastic with a thickness of less than 75 microns till September 30, 2021 and 120 microns after December 31, 2022. Non-woven plastic carry bags shall not be less than 60 grams per square metre, but orders are being violated and now strict action will be taken on violation of orders. He said, in case of violation of the orders, the entire production will be confiscated and the factory will be closed down. According to the revised rules, if plastic sachets are found to be used for storing, packing or selling gutka, tobacco and pan masala, not only will the factory be locked, but a fine of Rs 5,000 per tonne will be imposed for the first violation, Rs 10,000 per tonne for the second violation and Rs 20,000 per tonne for the third violation. Gupta said in case of ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice cream sticks and thermocol decorative items as well as plastic plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, barrels, knives, straws, trays, wrapping films for sweet boxes, invitation cards and cigarette packets, a fine of up to Rs 20,000 per tonne will be imposed for violation of rules, besides shopkeepers’ license will be cancelled.
