HC issues contempt notice to plastic producers in HP

SHIMLA, Himachal Pradesh: While hearing a petition regarding the non-implementation of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, the state High Court expressed its concern over the increasing plastic waste and issued a contempt notice to two plastic producers for not submitting the details of plastic waste generated from their products.

In the previous hearing the High Court had directed all producers, importers, and brand owners (PIBOs) to submit the details of the waste generated from their products to the Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPSPCB). They were also asked to work with urban local bodies and gram panchayats to ensure effective waste collection, segregation, and processing of plastic waste through registered waste processors, with the help of the private agencies.

During the hearing, the presiding judges of the Division Bench, Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Sushil Kukreja, also expressed their concern over the cloudburst tragedy that befell the Himalayan state a few days ago.  The court discovered that the meeting of all stakeholders was also scheduled for August 3 in the office of the Director, Urban Development, regarding the issue of plastic waste. After this, the court asked the state government to provide the minutes of the meeting to the court at the next hearing, which will be on August 8.