Bhubaneswar: After partial curbs on plastic sale, manufacturing and usage in select cities, the state government has decided to extend the ban across the state from October 2 this year on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
State Forest and Environment Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha Tuesday informed the media about the proposal to ban the use of single-use plastic in the state. He said the public have been asked to send in their feedback and concerns over the issue, if any.
“We have decided to ban the use of single-use plastic in the state from October 2. We have resolved to ban its usage in the urban areas coming under the municipal corporation jurisdictions. We had sought feedback and objections of the citizens on the issue till September 12 and asked to respond in 15 days on the issue.”
The minister also said that the proposal coincides with the view of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi who also had talked about banning plastic throughout the country during his speech on the 73rd Independence Day celebrations in New Delhi.
“From our department we have also forwarded a proposal to the Chief Minister. Soon after its approval the usage of plastic could be imposed throughout the state from October 2. The proposal of the ban included banning plastic products like plastic bottles, carry bags, plastic spoons and plates,” the minister said.
Notably, the government had in September 2018 imposed the ban on the sale, manufacturing, storage and usage of in select ULBs to discourage the use of the environmentally hazardous plastic products. In the maiden phase it was imposed in six municipal bodies – Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela, Sambalpur and Puri.
