Top officials in Delhi Government said traders involved in production of plastic bags have been told to dismantle their manufacturing facilities as soon as possible.
"The complete ban on manufacture, sale, storage and use of plastic bags in the city will come into effect from November 22," a senior official in the Environment department said.
The city government had decided to impose the ban on September 11 and a notification for implementation of the decision was issued last week.
Currently, around 400 plastic bag manufacturing units are operating in the city and the total yearly turnover of these units is in the range of Rs 800 crore to Rs 1,000 crore, an industry expert said.
As per the notification, no person including shopkeepers, vendors, wholesalers, retailers and hawkers will be allowed to sell, store or use plastic carry bags for supply of any goods.
Plastic carry bags for use, as specified under the BioMedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998, will not be covered under the ban.
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Officials said the use of plastic cover/pouch to pack magazines, invitation cards and greeting cards will also be prohibited. Green groups have long been demanding a blanket ban on plastic bags in the capital.
Following a Delhi High Court order, the government had in January 2009 imposed a ban on the use of plastic bags in various markets, shopping malls, hotels and hospitals but it has not produced the desired result.
The government has now imposed the ban as per provision of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, under which violators could face imprisonment up to five years and fine of up to Rs one lakh or both.
Officials said the government took the decision to go for total ban on plastic bags as the existing ban which did not include manufacturing activities, had not produced the desired result. (MORE)