Wednesday, 18 OCTOBER 2023 | PNS | NAINITAL
The Uttarakhand High Court has ordered the State government to completely prohibit polythene bags being sold in Uttarakhand. The bench of chief justice Vipin Sanghi and justice Manoj Kumar Tiwari issued this direction while hearing a public interest litigation filed by Almora resident Jitendra Yadav seeking measures to check plastic waste in the State.
The counsel for the petitioner informed the court that despite being prohibited, the sale of polythene bags has continued in the State. The polythene bags are also being brought from other States while the government has been unsuccessful in stopping the sale of the prohibited item. It was further stated that GPS devices have not been installed on all garbage collection vehicles. The petitioner further contended that the government had made a law for disposal of plastic waste in 2013 but the rules for it have not been made yet. Hearing the matter, the HC ordered the State to enforce a complete prohibition on polythene bags. Checks should be conducted by the Commercial Tax department with the cooperation of the police and other departments at the State borders. The court ordered that GPS devices should be installed in the garbage collection vehicles and the maps of Van Panchayats should be uploaded online in four weeks. The court also ordered the rules for the Act made for disposal of plastic waste in 2013 should be prepared in six months and that QR codes should be displayed on the products.
