Lok Sabha Question No. 600 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-06
Subject: Ban on Single Use Plastic
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Beesetti  Venkata Satyavathi, Bheemrao Baswanthrao Patil, Amar Singh, Kotagiri Sridhar, Pocha Brahmananda Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 600

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2023

## Ban on Single Use Plastic

600. DR. BEESETTI VENKATA SATYAVATHI: SHRI B.B. PATIL: DR. AMAR SINGH: SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI: SHRI POCHA BRAHMANANDA REDDY:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is taking measures to enforce ban on manufacturing, import, stocking,  distribution,  sale  and  use  of  single  use  plastic  in  the  country,  if  so,  the details thereof along with the steps taken to monitor plastic reduction in the country in a time bound manner;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  found  that  many  manufacturers  continue  to  produce plastic items like straws, straw covers, cigarette packets etc. and such items are also available in small shops, if so, the details of the action taken against them;
- (c) whether the Government has penalised any persons/companies for deviation from the said Rules so far and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  issued  any  notices  or  deadlines  to  the  handful  of Cigarette manufacturers who are making or selling products in the country for not to use any plastic material in packaging in any form, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  action  taken  by  the  Government  on  manufacturers  of  tabacoo  products  who  are violating the guidelines issued on ban on single use plastic?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a)The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, as amended, provide the statutory framework and the prescribed authorities for enforcement of the rules, including ban on identified single use  plastic  items,  which  became  effective  from  1 st July  2022.  Further,  States  and  Union territories  have  been  asked  to  undertake  regular  enforcement  drives  to  implement  ban  on identified single use plastic items and on plastic carry bags having thickness less than one hundred  twenty  microns,  covering  fruit  and  vegetable  markets,  wholesale  markets,  local markets, flower vendors, units manufacturing plastic carry bags etc. States and UTs have also been asked to undertake random checking at border checkpoints to stop inter-state movement of banned single use plastic items. A one-month long pan India enforcement campaign was undertaken for implementation of ban on identified single use plastic items from 1 st to  31 st July  2022.  Special  pan  India  enforcement  drives  has  undertaken  in  months  of  October, November and December, 2022 by Central Pollution Control Board, State Pollution Control Boards and Pollution Control Committees.

For effective monitoring of ban on identified single use plastic items and plastic waste management  in  the  country  the  following  online  platforms  are  in  operation  (a)  National Dashboard  on  for  monitoring  of  comprehensive  action  plan  implementation,  (b)  CPCB Monitoring  Module  for  Compliance  on  Elimination  of  Single  Use  Plastic,  and  (c)  CPCB Grievance Redressal App.

(b) & (c): During  the  enforcement  campaign,  non-compliance  of  the  ban  on  identified single  use  plastic  has  been  found  in  commercial  establishments  and  manufacturing  units including in small shops in local markets. Actions have been taken on the deviations, which include  seizure  of  banned  single  use  plastic  items  and  levy  of  penalty.  As  per  available information,  the  penalty  levied  during  the  enforcement  campaigns  is  approximately  Rs. 6,01,67,701/- and 8,04,501 kg. material was seized.

(d)  to  (e):Directions  were  issued  to  Gutkha  /  Pan  Masala  Manufacturers  &  Cigarette manufacturers who were using plastic in packaging of their products. Action, as appropriate, including closure of units and levying of environmental compliance has been taken against non-compliant units.

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