Manufacturers, traders seek time before total ban

LUCKNOW : To mitigate the possibility of huge losses in the wake of the ongoing plastic ban, representatives of plastic product manufacturing industries and wholesalers have approached the state government seeking extension in the plan to impose total ban on plastic across UP.

“We have reached a point from where the future looks bleak for all the people related to this business. A total ban on plastic in such a short duration will ruin us,” said Mohit Bansal, head of Thermoforming Association of UP.

The ban against plastic came into effect from July 15 and government proposes to enforce total ban on all kinds of singleuse plastic by October 2.

“At least 5 lakh individuals are directly involved in the business who will lose their jobs if the ban is implemented in one go. Our request from the government is to increase the duration for complete ban so that we gradually shift to other sectors,” Bansal said. The representatives of the association have sent a letter with their demands to senior politicians including urban development minister Suresh Khanna and are waiting for the response.

The association in UP has planned to hold a meeting of thermoforming manufacturers from across the country in Lucknow. Environment minister Dara Singh Chauhan whose ministry is leading the drive against plastic, could not be reached for his comment despite repeated attempts.