Dimapur, Nov. 29 (EMN): The government of Nagaland has banned plastic articles of specific size and make. Even government agencies will be making changes in their institutions’ use of plastic materials, according to updates. Updates from the DIPR on Thursday stated that the Urban Development department had issued a notification approved by a Cabinet meeting on Nov. 26.
The government of Nagaland has introduced a policy restricting the use of plastic in Nagaland “with a view to eradicate the menace of plastic and the serious environmental and ecological challenges posed by rampant use of plastics...”
All single-use plastic less than 50 microns especially plastic bags and plastic cutleries including Styrofoam and thermocol disposable plates will be banned from Dec. 1.
Government offices also will stop using packaged drinking water bottles of under 20 litres capacity, by April 1 2019. Alternatives like filtered water dispensers and RO plants will be introduced; and government servants will be encouraged to carry reusable drinking water bottles, the updates stated.
Alternatives to plastic bags will be promoted and popularized. These would include cloth, jute, paper bags, bamboo and leaf plates and cutleries, it was informed.
The notification stated to set up a taskforce in each district. The task force will include government officials, nongovernmental groups and church leaders to ‘devise local strategies and build awareness for plastic free environment.’ Likewise, village councils and municipal bodies will be educated to take proactive action in their jurisdiction to discourage citizens from using plastic.
Further, local authorities can decide on the issue of levying penalties for continued use of single-use plastic in their jurisdiction. Incentives will be provided to entrepreneurs investing in production of paper bags and cloth bag making units, disposable bio-degradable cutlery from areca nut leaves, setting up of ‘water ATM’ in public places, plastic shredding units for recycling of plastics etc.
Again, measures will be taken to ban plastic straws by Jan. 1 2020. This will require manufacturers of juices, coffee etc., to start adopting alternatives to single-use plastic straws, the updates stated.
