Karnataka to receive objections on plastic bag ban

The Karnataka government will accept objections for a month on the ban of plastic bag usage announced on Tuesday, an official said on Wednesday.

"For 30 days, the government will be receiving the objections, once we receive the objections, the government will notify," said Ramachandra, chairman, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) without notifying a specific timeframe.

Earlier, attempts by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to contain plastic bag usage failed.

"They failed because they had no authority to do that. Now with state government's authority we have banned it. It is a feasible plan now," added Ramachandra.

The draft notification stated that: "No person, including shopkeeper, vendor, wholesaler, retailer, trader, hawker or salesman, shall use plastic carry bags, banners, buntings, flex, plastic bags, plastic plates, plastic cups and plastic sheets (for spreading on dining tables) used in functions for serving food items irrespective of thickness."

"Further, no industry or person shall manufacture, supply, store, transport, sell and distribute plastic carry bags... from the date of publication of the directions through a notification in the gazette," it added.

However, the draft notification exempted plastic bags manufactured for export, and plastic products used in nurseries, dairy, healthcare and other non-consumptive sectors.

Ramachandra said there are nearly 500 plastic manufacturing units in Karnataka.