Manipur intensify drive against single-used plastics

Published on Apr 17, 2025

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.