Govt allocates Rs 10 cr for plastic ban awareness advertisements

Pune: The State government has decided to allocate funds of Rs 10 crore for advertisements to spread awareness about the plastic and thermocol ban. 

According to the Maharashtra Plastic and Thermocol Products (Manufacture, Usage, Sale, Transport, Handling and Store) Notification, 2018, the manufacture, usage, sale, storage and transport of products made from plastic and thermocol will be banned with immediate effect across the State. 

Manufacturers, producers, sellers, traders, retailers and users have been granted a month's time to finish the existing stock of the banned items. On Saturday, a government notification stated that the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations has prepared a detailed plan for fund utilisation. The notification states that the move has been taken for effective implementation of the ban. 

The effects of the awareness campaign will be tracked by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board. Local corporation bodies in Maharashtra have already started implementation of the ban, which is being followed by various traders and users. However, a section of manufacturers and traders have opposed the ban, claiming that the ban be placed only after an alternative to plastic is provided to them.