GUWAHATI: Even after close to a month of passing an official notification for banning plastic and polythene in the state, the ban is yet to be implemented in Guwahati.
The notification dated April 29 was issued by the Governor and the Environment & Forest department, Assam.
It officially put a ban on the manufacture, supply, storage, transportation, sale, carriage, distribution and use of plastic carry bags, plastic banners, buntings, flex, flags, plates, cups, spoons, cling films and plastic sheets for spreading on dining tables.
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However, the various implementing authorities and government departments are unaware of the official ban or have not received the notification till now, resulting in the delay of its implementation.
Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) commissioner, Debeshwar Malakar, said that they are currently in the process of verifying the rules of enforcing the ban.
“I have heard that an order has been issued regarding plastic ban by the government of Assam and I have already entrusted one officer to see what powers can be exercised by the GMC in this connection and the rules regarding the same. We are considering it after clarification of the relevant roles,” informed Malakar.
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Further, the deputy commissioner of Kamrup (Metro) district was not aware of the ban on plastic and polythene and said that he had not received or seen the notification yet.
On the other hand, a senior official of the Pollution Control Board of Assam confirmed that the notice was authentic.
Further, the traders of Fancy Bazar, too, were unaware of the ban issued by the government.
“I have not heard about any plastic ban ordered by the government. If this ban will have any impact on my sales or trading, then it is very important for me to know about it,” a trader in Fancy Bazar, Anirudh Siotia, told G Plus.
