Supreme goods ban in Delhi on July 10

The ban on 19 single-use plastic SUP items will be imposed on Delhi government on July 10 and punitive action will be taken against repeat offenders, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Friday.

He said the fines of up to 1 lakh or a jail term of up to five years or more will be imposed under the 1986 Environment Protection Act.

He said that the government will give top priority to creating awareness against the use of SUP items and providing alternatives to people.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee DPCC had earlier issued strict directions to manufacturers, stockists, suppliers and distributors of SUP items to ensure zero inventory of the banned commodities, including packaging films and plastic cutlery, by June 30.

Many people believe that setting up enforcement teams, imposing fines and closing down default units will make the ban successful. Our government thinks differently. The minister said the aim is to create awareness and provide alternatives to people before enforcing the ban.

The ban comes into effect when the unemployment rate is high. It's going to affect a large number of manufacturers, distributors and sellers of SUP items. Many people will find it hard to make ends meet. These people are our own, Rai said while launching a three-day fair at Thyagraj Stadium in order to promote alternatives to SUP items.

Teams of the DPCC, Revenue Department and Municipal Corporation of Delhi MCD will conduct inspections, create awareness and issue warnings against those who don't comply with the ban until July 10.

After July 10 there will be a unitative action against the repeat offenders. He said that the ban would result in a fine of up to 1 lakh or a jail term up to 5 years or more under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

The Revenue Department and the DPCC have 33 and 15 teams constituted to ensure the enforcement of the ban.

The DPCC will ensure compliance with the ban in confirming areas, and MCD and other local bodies will be responsible for its implementation in the informal sector, officials said.

The MCD and other urban local bodies will take action against the defaulting units, according to their bylaws, while the Revenue department will take action under the Environment Protection Act.

An official said the Environment Department will monitor the implementation of the ban through the 'Green War Room' which was set up in October 2020 to keep a tab on air pollution levels and address related complaints.

The Green Delhi'' mobile application has been updated to file complaints regarding the ban on SUP items.

Each day, Delhi generates 1,060 tons of plastic waste. Plastic is estimated to be 5.6 percent or 56 kg of solid waste per metric ton of the total waste in the capital.

On August 12th, last year, the Union Environment Ministry issued a notification that prohibits the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified SUP commodities, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, from July 1, 2022.

The identified SUP items include earbuds, plastic sticks for balloons, flags, candy sticks, polystyrene thermocol plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrapping or packaging films around sweets boxes, invitations, cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners of less than 100 microns, and stirrers.

The thickness of plastic carry bags will have to be increased from 75 microns to 120 microns from December 31.