Govt gets 3 weeks to respond to plea on banning use of plastic for packaging

National Green Tribunal is hearing a case filed by Him Jagriti Uttaranchal Welfare Society

The government and all other stakeholders have got three weeks’ time to respond to a petition before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) asking for restriction on use of plastic in the packaging industry.

The tribunal passed its orders on Wednesday directing the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers to formally join in the case hearings, along with the ministry of environment and forests and the petitioners. The tribunal was hearing a case filed by Him Jagriti Uttaranchal Welfare Society. The petitioners have sought that the use of plastic bottles, multi-layered and plastic packaging and PET bottles be restricted by imposing a ban on packaging of carbonated soft drink in these chemicals, as well as phase out the use of plastic polyethylene for all other non-essential items.

The green court had in its last hearing recorded that several ministries had put on record that the use of these chemicals for packaging was bad for public health. It had said, “Prima facie, we are of the view that there has to be a restriction on such packaging and generation of municipal plastic waste.”

On Wednesday, it gave all the interested parties to submit documents to the court in the case. But, it did not allow others, including the industry, to implead in to the case. It has only asked the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers to join the case when it hears it next.