Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, June 23: To curb the menace and adverse impact of plastics and its products on health and environment, Commissioner/ Secretary Finance/ GAD Department, UT Ladakh, Rigzin Samphel issued an order regarding the ban on the use of plastic water bottles and other plastic made objects in Government offices and other institutions.
The order reads that all Government offices/Boards/ Corporations/ Autonomous bodies/ units/educational institutions/ universities in the Union Territory of Ladakh shall dispense with the use of plastic water bottles in their respective offices and make alternate arrangements for safe drinking water that does not generate plastic waste.
All the Government offices were directed to take initiatives and steps to ensure total ban on the use of plastic bottles, plastic folders and similar plastic made objects by the end of July 2020 in their premises and implement alternative eco-friendly measures and use substitutes made of biodegradable materials for all purposes.
However, multi-use water bottles/dispensers/containers, besides water bottles made of alternative materials like glass, steel, aluminum, etc shall be allowed in Government offices. The educational institutions were directed to make efforts in propagating the message of zero littering of plastic bottles, effective plastic waste management and behavioral change towards dispensing with the use of plastic made products in the student community.
“The DDOs/Treasury officers shall not entertain/process bills that reflect expenditure on the use of aforesaid plastic made articles in Government offices,” the order reads. It further said that the directions in this regard shall also circulate by the head of the departments to all line department/ subordinate offices for strict compliance.
It said that the target and the timeline for phased ban shall be 100% of plastic bottles by 15th July 2020 and 100% of plastic files, folders etc. by 31st July 2020. All the concerned Deputy Commissioners/ Directors and Head of the Departments/ Organizations/ Boards/Unit and Educational Institutions in Union Territory of Ladakh have been asked to take stringent measures ensuring conformity of the order in letter and spirit.
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