Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 8

In order to preserve environment and make the city single-use plastic-free, the UT Administration may initiate legal action against violators.

On September 27, 2019, the Chandigarh Administration had imposed a complete ban on identified single-use plastic/thermocol items. Regular checking and inspection are being carried out by the authorities concerned for strict implementation of the ban. However, a large number of residents, shopkeepers, rehriwalas have been found violating the ban and have been challaned by the authorities.

If the defaulters fail to deposit the challan before December 15, action may be initiated against them in the form of discontinuation of the electricity and water supply and sealing of the unit/premises. Debendra Dalai, Member secretary, Chandigarh pollution control committee

Debendra Dalai, member secretary, Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC), said all defaulters who had been challaned by the Administration had to deposit the challan amount in the office of the CPCC, but more than 800 defaulters had not yet deposited the challan amount.

He said if the defaulters failed to deposit the challan amount with the CPCC before December 15, action might be initiated against them in the form of discontinuation of the electricity and water supply and sealing of the unit/premises.

Further, legal action might be taken against the violators such as imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with a fine which may extend to Rs1 lakh or with both.

The single-use plastic items banned include cutlery, thermocol or styrofoam cutlery, containers, sealed drinking water glasses, single-use razors, single-use pens, thermocol for decoration purpose and plastic material for decoration purpose such as wrapping sheets, frills, garland, confetti and plastic ribbons.

In its directions, the National Green Tribunal had stated that any person found using, storing, purchasing, dealing with or distributing plastic bags, plastic plates or plastic glasses and such allied items would be liable to pay an environmental compensation at the rate of Rs5,000 per event.

Prohibited items

The single-use plastic items banned in Chandigarh include cutlery, thermocol or styrofoam cutlery, containers, sealed drinking water glasses, single-use razors, single-use pens, thermocol for decoration purpose and plastic material for decoration purpose such as wrapping sheets, frills, garland, confetti and plastic ribbons.