Ban on 17 types of plastics comes into force in Nilgiris

Ooty: With the gazette notification completed, a ban on 17 types of plastic products and two types of paper cups, has come into force in Nilgiris district. Provision for heavy fines for violations has been made in the order.

While the announcement made by the district administration of Nilgiris last November of banning paper cups failed to yield the desired results with such cups still being used in the hills, the administration has now taken up due process and related formalities to take the ban forward to such cups and around 17 types of plastic and related products.  

Ms. J. Innocent Divya, collector of Nilgiris, said that after local bodies in the district,  including four municipalities, 11 town panchayats and 35 village panchayats passed resolutions to ban the use and sale of plastic products, the same has now been published in the district gazette notification. With this,  the ban on plastic products and paper cups - plastic bags of all thicknesses, use and throw plastic cups and plastic plates, plastic and foil lined paper plates, plastic spoons and forks, plastic straws, styrofoam/thermocol plates and cups,  polypropolyne (PP) (non-woven) carry bags and packing bags,  chefs hats, plastic caps and bed-sheets, plastic gloves,  water packets,  silver foil covers, plastic buntings, plastic and foil gift wrap,  laminated  brown paper, laminated bakery boxes and cling wrap, besides paper cups and tumblers, has come into force in Nilgiris, she noted.

In case anybody is found violating this ban, a fine will be imposed.  The fine will be Rs 1,000 for retail traders, Rs 5,000 for wholesale traders and Rs 20,000 for wedding halls.

People and traders in Nilgiris have been specially urged to give their wholehearted cooperation for plastic-control measures to conserve the ecology and nature of the Nilgiris, Innocent Divya said.