Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal asked all the deputy commissioners, Commissioners of Municipal Corporations to strictly implement 'The Punjab Plastic Bags (Manufacture, Usage and Disposal) Control Act'.
According to the Act no person could manufacture or carry bags from virgin plastic of thickness not less than 30 micron and size not less than 8 X 12 inches.
Taking an exception to the pollution being caused by the rampant use of polythene in the cities and rural areas despite imposition of ban since May one last year, the deputy chief minister observed that authorities have been lax in imposition of ban, and drains and sewerage in cities and rural areas were getting choked with the polythene.
He said that even the stray cattle were becoming victim after consuming polythene.
Seeking weekly report on the action taken by the various districts in imposition of ban on polythene, Badal said that an eye should be kept on the manufacturing units and selling points of polythene.
Sukhbir said that after imposition of ban on polythene in New Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, there had been a substantial improvement in the environment.
"We must launch a campaign to educate the masses regarding the ill effects of polythene and motivate the public to use bio-degradable jute bags," said Sukhbir.
The Animal Husbandry department had been issuing warnings that lot of stray cattle were dying after consuming waste polythene less than 30 micron from the dumping pits, he said.
The indiscriminate disposal of polythene in unscientific manner was also making the soil barren, he claimed.
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