HP forerunner to ban single use plastic: Chief Secretary

Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena presided over the 5th meeting of the State Task Force for the elimination of single use plastic in the state here yesterday.

He said that Himachal Pradesh was the forerunner state in implementing the ban on single use plastic, which had been appreciated across the country. “Due to hazards caused by polythene, the government banned its use, sale and manufacture from non-biodegradable materials in the state,” he added.

Saxena directed stakeholder departments and all Deputy Commissioners to conduct inspections every Saturday to check violations of the HP Non-biodegradable (Control) Act, 1995, and convene a meeting of the District Level Task Force and submit the action taken report on a monthly basis to the office of the Director, Environment, Science, Technology and Climate Change.

He directed all Deputy Commissioners to get registered on the online portal for annual reporting under the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2024, and implement regulations notified by the state government in 2024-25 to ensure the imposition of a total ban on the use of identified single use plastic items.

Saxena directed the stakeholder departments to work in a campaign mode to sensitise people about single use plastic and urged the Deputy Commissioners to ensure that small water bottles were not served during government meetings.

Himachal Tribune