Subadh Kumar Nayak

Bhubaneswar: Ban on the use of single-use plastics will come into force across Odisha on occasion of Gandhi Jayanti tomorrow.

According to reports, the State government will enforce the ban on manufacturing, selling, trading, importing, storing, carrying, transporting and distributing with help of single-use plastics in all cities of the State from tomorrow.

Earlier, the State government had imposed the ban only in six cities- Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Berhampur and Puri in October last year.

Sources said that plastic bags with a thickness less than 50 microns and bottles with a larger size than 200 ml have also been banned.

Likewise, prohibition has also been imposed on single-use plastic items including plastic cups, plates, spoons, forks, bowls, glasses and pouches to store liquid objects. Thermocol decorative items also have been banned, informed the sources.

Secretary of the Forest and Environment department of the State government has asked the concerned officials to avoid the use of plastic items in their respective offices and ensure strict compliance of the rule by others in the State.

Sources, however, said that any organisation willing to prepare or use plastic bags that are of more than 50 microns can do so after getting prior permission from the Central Pollution Control Board.

It is worthwhile to mention here that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged for ban on the use of plastic materials across the country for successful implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

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