Saturday, 26 March 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) has issued an order to its sanitation team to ensure single-use plastics are not being produced, sold, purchased or used in any ward of the city. This step has been taken as part of the phased elimination of the single use plastic programme of the corporation. The chief municipal health officer Dr Avinash Khanna issued an order as a part of the MCD’s initiative regarding the phased elimination of single-use plastics in the city. Khanna said that this initiative is being taken under Section-5 of the Environment Protection Act 1986. He stated in the order that according to the notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and the state government and letter of Uttarakhand Environment Protection and Pollution Control Board (UEPPCB), no person must knowingly or unknowingly, produce, sell, purchase, store and supply prohibited materials like single-use plastics, polystyrene, styrofoam among others across the state. However, this restriction would not be applicable on the bio composted plastic bags and plastic bags of over 50 microns thickness used for the purpose of disposal of the garbage generated in hospitals, as per the order. Khanna stated that the officials will impose a fine of Rs five lakh on the production of such prohibited materials and Rs two lakh on the suppliers. People who are found to be using it will also be charged with a fine of Rs 100.Khanna has directed the sanitation inspectors to conduct regular inspections and start confiscating banned plastic products and imposing fines on the offenders along with raising awareness among the residents. He said that the corporation has been taking initiatives to restrict the usage of single-use plastics in the city but with this order, the sanitation team will run several campaigns at a bigger level and take action against the offenders for violating the rules.
