- IMPHAL — In a move to reduce use of plastics in
Manipur, the state authorities have started to launch an intensive drive against
single-used plastics (SUP), while the educational institutions are taking up
awareness programmes in connection with the enforcement of ban on SUP.
- The steps are being taken up after the official ban on such
products came into force from April 15, 2025.
- The officials of Manipur Pollution Control Board (MPCB),
Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Home Department, Urban local
bodies and others have started to carry out inspections across various
commercial areas including Imphal city.
Also read: Manipur to ban single-used plastics from April 15
- On Wednesday, an awareness drive was held at Khwairamband
Keithel-the main market in the capital, where officials used a loudspeaker
urging people to stop using SUP besides distributing sustainable bags to
shoppers.
- Urging the public to support the initiative to combat
plastic pollution, member secretary of MPCB, W Roshan, has appealed to the
traders to stop selling banned plastic items and warned that penalties would
also be imposed to those violators.
- Prior to the authorities drive, the district level task
forces have already been formed by issuing necessary notification to enforce
the ban of SUP under the Manipur Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016.
- The concerned deputy commissioners of the districts have
also appealed to enforce the ban of SUP in the district offices and warned that
the district administration would take up a stringent drive to enforce the ban
of SUP in the district.
- On April 4, the principal secretary of Municipal
Administration, Housing and Urban Development, RK Dinesh, cautioned that the
entire state of Manipur would be choked unless the use of SUP is banned.
- On Thursday, an awareness drive to ban SUP was held at
Modern College Porompat in Imphal East district. Oriental College in Imphal
West and Kha-Manipur College in Kakching district organised similar clean-up
programme-cum-awareness drive on ban of SUP on April 16. Imphal College also
organised enforcement drive on SUP on April 15.
