State should emulate HP plastic ban

Shimla, Nov 1 (PTI) Uttarakhand stands to benefit by following its neighbour in banning polythene carry bags.
A month after a ban was imposed onthe usage of polythene bags in Himachal Pradesh, the results are already visible in the hill state.The state had imposed a complete ban on the pollutant
on October 2.
The Act has provision for hefty penalty on the
violators including citizens, tourists, traders and commercial
establishments ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000. Officials
from state pollution control board, police and other
departments have been empowered to impose challan on the spot
on violators.
Roads in the state sport a much cleaner look these days
and a common problem of blockage of drains due to them is also
gone.
The administration has launched a major cleaning drive
in the cities to remove the old piled up waste.
HP also received a pat from Union minister for
Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh for this step.
Ramesh, who was here in connection with two-day
Himalayan Chief Ministers conclave on environment that ended
on Friday, asked other hill states like Uttarakhand, Jammu and
Kashmir, Arunchal Pradesh and Sikkim having fragile ecology to
emulate HP by imposing ban on polythene carry bags.
Ramesh said a study would be conducted for similar
steps in the plains in future.
PTI