Railways, metro, airport authorities can now also act against plastic users

As per the new modifications, the use, sale, storage and manufacture of PET and PETE bottles with holding capacity of less than 200 ml, has been included in the lists of plastic items banned under the original notification

The Maharashtra government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure ‘strict’ implementation of the blanket ban on manufacture, sale and use of plastic items, it imposed earlier this year. The government on Friday informed the Bombay High Court it has authorised the railways, metro and airport authorities to implement the blanket ban and initiate action against the offenders. A division bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Riyaz Chagla was informed of this decision and also the modifications made in the original notification of March, by which the government had announced the blanket ban.

In the affidavit filed through the Under Secretary of environment department, the government stated, “Any officer nominated by the Railways, Metro, Maharashtra Maritime Board and Airport authorities is also authorised to initiate action under the notification.”

The affidavit stated that the Empowerment Committee under the chairmanship of state’s environment minister, considered the representations made by the plastic manufacturers and associations. It further said that committee submitted its recommendations to the government and based on these some modifications were made in the original notification, on June 30.

As per the new modifications, the use, sale, storage and manufacture of the PET and PETE bottles with holding capacity of less than 200 ml, has been included in the lists of plastic items banned under the original notification. By this amendment, the government has put the onus on the PET bottle manufacturers to ensure these bottles are ‘diligently’ collected and recycled.

In the amendments, the government has also proposed to coordinate with the scrap dealers for collecting the plastic waste and further recycling it. The amended notification also permitted wholesalers and retailers of groceries and grain products to sell these items in sealed plastic packaging material, but with a condition that they should print a buy-back price on the said plastic packaging.

The government has also decided to initiate action against manufacturers and producers, who fail to implement the ban effectively.

Taking the affidavit on record, the bench has asked the plastic manufacturers to file their say in response to the amendments and has posted the matter for hearing on September 3.