Ban on plastic bags in urban areas in Punjab from April 1

As part of the Swachh Bharat campaign, the Punjab government will enforce a ban on plastic bags in urban areas from April 1. Local bodies minister Anil Joshi said the government had issued a notification in this regard that bans production, distribution, purchase, selling and recycling of plastic bags in all municipal corporations, municipal councils and nagar panchayats of the state.

The ban would also apply to one-time use material manufactured from thermocol with the exemption of packing material. Under Section 7 of the Punjab Plastic Carry Bag Act, non-biodegradable plastic carry bags or containers with the inclusion of items made from thermocol are already banned.

Commissioners in municipal corporations and executive officers (EOs) in municipal councils/nagar panchayats have been nominated for the purpose of lodging complaints regarding the violations of these orders. In addition, three chief engineers have been assigned the duty of conducting checks in all districts, the minister added.