Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call, the Assam Cabinet approved a Comprehensive Action Plan to eliminate single-use plastics on Thursday, February 10.
The Cabinet also established a strategy for the development of alternatives and scientific disposal of plastic wastes.
The Revenue & Disaster Management, Industries & Commerce, Science & Technology, Urban Development, and Environment & Forest Departments will collaborate to develop a strategy in this area.
The action plan seeks to ban plastic carry bags less than 75 microns in thickness with effect from 30 September last year and carry bags less than 120 microns in thickness that will be effective from 31st December 2022.
It will also eliminate earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) used for decoration, plates, cups, glasses, cutlery like forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packaging films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informing about the same, tweeted, “Protecting environment being a priority, we finalised an Action Plan to phase out single-use plastics and ensure compensatory afforestation at our weekly #AssamCabinet. We also took decisions on fixing speed limits to reduce accidents, allotment of land to indigenous SHGs, etc.”
