Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, June 30 (EMN): In pursuance to the government’s notification on ‘ban of single-use plastics’ (SUP), the deputy commissioner of Mokokchung, Shashank Pratap Singh, has listed out prohibited single-use plastic items which has low utility and high littering potential.
The DC stated that the Nagaland Governor was pleased to impose a "Ban on single-use plastic in Nagaland" to eradicate the menace of plastic and the serious environmental and ecological challenges posed by the rampant use of plastics.
He informed that manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of carry bags made of virgin or recycled plastic shall not be less than 75 microns in thickness with effect from September 30, 2021, and 120 microns in thickness with effect from December 31, 2022. He added that non-woven plastic bags should not be less than 60 gram per square meter (GSM) with effect from September 30, 2022.
The DC also informed that manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of the single use plastic including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene commodities would be prohibited with effect from July 1, 2022. It included earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration.
The banned items also included plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons knives, straws, trays, wrapping or packaging films around sweet boxes, invitation cards and cigarette packets, plastic or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) banners less than 100 micron.
The DC informed that all other clauses mandated in the “Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016” and “Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021” should be strictly adhered to.
In this connection, he has directed all individuals, institutions and commercial establishments to strictly adhere and implement the same in true spirit in their respective establishments/ jurisdiction.
Further, as resolved in the DPDB meeting on April 14 last, all the HoD in Mokokchung district are directed to ensure that no single-use plastics are used in any official functions.
Meanwhile, he informed that the district administration and sub-divisional administration/ urban local bodies would decide and levy penalties against the defaulters in their jurisdiction.
The DC further stated that a district task force (DTF) has been constituted to strictly monitor and function as a squad for vigilance purposes.