Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 25: The State Pollution Control Board (PCB) banned use of all types of polythene irrespective of any thickness in the State and directed officers to seize it. The Government SRO issued earlier this year, despite High Court ban for manufacture and use of 50 microns polythene bags, has also been suspended.
The PCB in this regard issued an order directing authorized officers to seize polythene carry bags irrespective of thickness wherever they find the polythene product is being used, traded, marketed or manufactured.
“Whereas the High Court has been pleased to direct vide order dated 7.12.2017 in PIL Pahalgam People’s Welfare Organization V/S State to enforce complete ban on polythene carry bags by following SRO 182 directing further not to Act on SRO 45 till the matter is examined and considered by the Court”, PCBs order read. However, the enforcement of the order shall be after January 15 next year.
All the Deputy Commissioners of the State have been asked to supervise the enforcement and District Officers of the board directed to act as Nodal Officers for seizure and shall report to concerned DCs and Regional Directors of the board on fortnight basis, every month.
Under SRO 45 in which consents were issued to different industries for manufacture of polythene carry bags of 50 microns and above thickness has also been suspended by the board till further orders.
“Seizure procedure for polythene carry bags shall remain unchanged and all authorized officers of other departments shall deposit the seized material with concerned Divisional officers of the board”, read the order.
It is mentioned here that Court while hearing the PIL on protection of Pahalgam sought copy of SRO 45 for its perusal and directed the authorities to ensure there shall be no use of polythene in and around PDA, in addition even in the entire State.
Only health care establishments were exempted from this direction by the Court with the observation as to whether SRO-45 is in line with the directions of the Court. Authorities were directed to initiate a special drive to eradicate the said menace and Divisional Commissioners of both the divisions were also directed to monitor the said process and file ATR before the Court.
PCB while issuing the ban order also directed officers authorized for compounding of offences by the Government under Section 13 of J&K Non Biodegradable (Management, Handling and Disposal) Act 2007 shall also act as per SRO 182 till further orders.
It is in pursuant to notification of plastic, waste management Rules 2016 under environment protection Act by Government of India, State Government harmonized norms notified under the Jammu and Kashmir Non Biodegradable (Management, Handling and & Disposal) Act 2007 by replacing SRO 182 where under ban was imposed on polythene carry bags with SRO 45 where under ban was restricted to less than 50 microns thickness polythene carry bags.
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