Like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh government has banned the use of polythene bags and items of common use made of plastic from July 15 in the state.
“I appeal that after July 15 plastic cups, glasses and polythene should not be used at any level. This will need the cooperation of all of you,” said the UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath.
The state government is yet to disclose its plan on how it’s plans to enforce the ban from July 15. The government has set up a committee which is preparing a blueprint for its implementation. It will submit a report by July 10.
Maharashtra had banned the use of plastic from June 23. However it later softened the ban after intense lobbying from industrialists, allowing e-commerce companies to use plastic packaging for three more months.
The latest announcement came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is pushing a plan to completely end the use of single-use plastic in India by 2022.
Plastic and packaging is a major MSME in Uttar Pradesh. In Kanpur alone, it’s a Rs 9,000 crore industry. Over 10 lakh people are involved in the manufacture and sale of plastic products.
