Complete ban on plastic is impossible overnight

KERALA: A complete ban on plastic bags cannot be applied at one stroke as it will create trouble for people, State government told the Kerala High court.

According to an affidavit filed by the State government in the Kerala High Court , said that  time was required to establish cheap, biodegradable alternatives to plastic bags. Such alternatives are not established yet.

“There is no provision in the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, empowering the state government to ban use of plastic carry bags entirely. The state strived to strictly enforce the rules and has already banned plastic carry bags less than 50 micron thick,” the government said.

The court had asked the Government to take the positive decision on the issue, in response of affidavit filed by  S. Seetharaman, Secretary of Aluva-based All Kerala River Protection Council.

“The government has also taken measures to control the burning of plastic and made it a punishable offence. The government is also encouraging Kudumbashree units to make biodegradable alternatives such as cloth and paper bags for replacing plastic carry bags,” the affidavit said.