GUWAHATI: The government of India has decided to hold off imposing a ban on single-use plastic for now as this measure could prove to be disruptive for the industry at a time when the country is dealing with an economic slowdown and lack of employment.
Based on a report by the Economic Times, two officials have stated that there will be no immediate move to ban plastic bags, cups, plates, small bottles, straws and kinds of sachets. Instead of the ban, the government will now try to curb the use of these items.
It should be noted that on the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was to outlaw six items on Wednesday, October 2 as part of a broader campaign to get rid of single-use plastic items in India by 2022.
Currently, the government will ask states to enforce the existing rules against storing, manufacturing and using some single-use plastic products like polythene bags and styrofoam.
The government’s proposed All-India ban on plastic had dismayed consumer firms who use plastic in packaging almost everything.
It should be noted that India uses 14 million tonnes of plastic annually and does not presently have an organised system for the management of plastic waste.
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