The new plastic rules 2009 promulgated by the environment ministry have drawn flak from the plastic industry in the city. The plastic manufacturing units form the second largest industry in the city after leather industry and the ban on the manufacture and sale of virgin or recycled plastics has left the plastic manufacturers in a bind. They will plead with the government to roll back its decision.
The notification of the ministry was proposed on September 17 under the Plastic (manufacture, usage and waste management) Rules, 2009. It was decided that the ban should come into force once the period of 60 days— starting from the introduction of the draft— ended. As the notification was published on the same day, the ban has come into effect from November 17.
“We will present our case before the ministry. Other ways to control plastic waste can be thought of rather than putting a blanket ban on the manufacture of plastics,” said SK Paliwal, a plastic manufacturing unit owner, who felt “banning is no solution.”
