GUWAHATI: The Assam government has issued a notification banning the manufacturing, importing, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of plastic water bottles with a capacity of less than 500 ml. This decision comes under the powers vested in the state by Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and in accordance with Section 23 of the same Act, as delegated by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India's Notification No. S.0.152 (E) dated February 10, 1988.
The new regulation, a partial modification of a previous notification dated August 23, 2023, aims to reduce plastic waste and its detrimental impact on the environment. The ban extends to all plastic water bottles specifically designed for packaging or bottling drinking water in the specified size range.
The notification was signed by RS Prasad, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to the Assam Government’s Environment and Forest Department. The order from the Governor came into effect on October 11.
