GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF
ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
STARRED
ANSWERED ON
QUESTION NO 42
26.11.2014
PLASTIC HAZARDS
42 .
Patel Smt. Jayshreeben
Kher Smt. Kirron
Will the Minister of
ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether any study has been conducted to ascertain the ill effects of plastic waste to the environment
and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has formulated/notified rules banning use of polythene bags in the country
and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the number of individuals/ companies/distributors and other entities penalised for the use,
manufacture and distribution of plastic bags, etc., State-wise;
(d) the names of the countries and the Indian States where use of plastic has been banned; and
(e) the difficulties being experienced in the enforcement of the ban and the corrective action
taken/proposed to be taken in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 42
FOR 26.11.2014 BY SHRIMATI JAYSHREEBEN PATEL AND SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER REGARDING PLASTIC
HAZARDS:
(a): The environmental impact of plastic waste has been examined by various committees in the past
which includes a Task Force headed by Shri Dilip Biswas in 1997 constituted to formulate a strategy and
action program for management of plastic waste; Justice Ranganath Mishra Committee in 2002 which
examined environmental hazards posed by indiscriminate littering and disposal of plastic waste; R. C.
Chopra Committee in 2007 which assessed the environmental hazards related to use of plastic bags in
the city of Delhi; expert Committee appointed by the Ministry in 2010 to evolve road map for
management of waste in the country including plastic waste; and the study in 2008-09 by the Central
Pollution Control Board to assess the impact of plastics waste disposal on soil and water quality at
Lucknow dumpsites. The reports of committees indicate that plastic bags if not collected systematically
choke drainage system and create unhygienic conditions; animals ingest plastic bags with the discarded
food leading to their illness and sometimes death; the plastic waste when disposed off on soil reduces
recharging of ground water aquifers; recycled plastic bags and containers contaminate packaged food;
plastic waste when disposed off in landfill sites causes leaching of metals and additives into the soil and
ground water; and uncollected plastic waste litters the surroundings.
(b): The Government of India has not banned use of polythene bags in the country. However, the
Ministry has notified the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011. These Rules prohibit
manufacture, sale stocking and use of plastic carry bags of less than 40 micron in thickness. The Rules
also provide for plastic waste management system to be established by the municipal authorities for
management of plastic waste in areas under their jurisdictions.
(c): The number of individuals/ companies/distributors and other entities penalised for violation of the
Rules is annexed.
(d): As per available information, use of plastic is not banned in any country. However, the States which
have banned use of plastic carry bags are Sikkim, Nagaland, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura,
Rajasthan, J&K and Delhi. The Union Territories which have banned use of plastic carry bags are
Andaman & Nicobar Island, Lakshadweep and Chandigarh,
(e): Although no information has been provided by the State Governments on difficulties experienced by
them in enforcement of ban on use of plastic bags, some of the factors making implementation of ban
difficult apparently are ubiquitous use of plastic bags, higher cost of substitute bags, lack of awareness,
weak enforcement mechanisms in some local bodies, etc.
ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN PART (c) OF STATEMENT FOR REPLY TO THE
LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 42 FOR 26.11.2014 BY SHRIMATI
JAYSHREEBEN PATEL AND SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER REGARDING PLASTIC
HAZARDS:
ANNEXURE
NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS/ COMPANIES/DISTRIBUTOS AND OTHER ENTITIES
PENALISED FOR VIOLATION OF RULES IN SOME OF THE STATES/UTs
S. No.
State
Number
1.
Assam
Nil
2.
Chandigarh
One industry has been penlised for manufacturing plastic carry
bags.
3.
Delhi
258 complaints against individuals/ companies have been lodged.
4.
Gujarat
1200 industries were issued show cause notices.
176
industries
were
(Protection) Act, 1986.
issued
Notices
under
Environment
230 industries were issues Directions under Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986.
5.
Haryana
739 have been penalised
6.
Himachal
500 individuals/companies/distributors have been challaned
Pradesh
(fined) since 2008-09.
7.
Jammu
Kashmir
&
128 manufacturing units of polythene carry bags in the State
have been closed down. Prohibited material has been seized from
distributors in huge quantities. Penalties have been imposed on
people indulging in trading of polythene carry bags.
8.
Jharkhand
NIL
9.
Karnataka
2777 violation were reported and penalized accordingly.
10.
Kerala
Has not identified any industry manufacturing plastic carry bag of
less than 40 micron in thickness therefore no legal action has
been taken.
11.
Maharashtra
Action has been initiated against 54 defaulting manufacturers and
recovered Rs. 2,50,000/-.
12.
Odihsa
NIL
13.
Puducherry
Two industries were closed.
One stockist godown was sealed.
Penal proceedings have been initiated against 05 stockists.
14.
Telangana
Penalty against 23 defaulting units for manufacturing carry bags
of less than stipulated thickness.