National Green Tribunal for complete ban on plastic bags in Punjab, Haryana

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal has prohibited use of plastic carry bags in various areas of Punjab and Haryana and sought responses on imposition of a complete ban across the two states.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to the Punjab and Haryana governments to show cause why the use of plastic carry bags not be completely banned in both the states.

"Having heard the counsel appearing for parties and perusing the documents on record we find a commonly conceded case. There is a lot of generation of plastic waste which is causing serious pollution in and around Chandigarh...

"To protect the environment from further degradation, blockages of the drains and other ill-effects on human health, we hereby direct complete prohibition of use of plastic carry bags in Panchkula, Mohali, Zirakpur, Mullanpur, Dera Bassi, New Chandigarh and Pinjore at the first instance," the bench said.

The tribunal's direction came while hearing a plea by Chandigarh resident Rishi Dev Anand who alleged "gross failure" in waste management system and delay in tackling garbage disposal in the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

Slamming the Chandigarh administration and civic authorities for their lackadaisical approach in implementing the 2008 notification on the ban on plastic, the bench had declared a fine of Rs 5,000 on anyone found using or dealing with plastic material in Chandigarh.

Later, a traders' body challenged its order banning use of bags, plates and glasses made of plastic and allied material in Chandigarh prompting the green panel to seek response from the Union Territory.