Ahmedabad bans use of plastic tea cups, water pouches

In a bid to make Ahmedabad free of "plastic pollution", the city municipal corporation today announced a complete ban on production and usage of plastic tea cups and packaged water pouches commemorating World Environment Day.

Notably, Rajkot Municipal Corporation yesterday announced ban on plastic.

As per the civic body, production and sale of plastic used for making tea cups, packaged water pouches, and paan masala packets is banned from today itself.

The ban was enforced under the provisions of Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporation Act 1949 and Solid Waste Management Rules 2016, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) said in a release.

On the first day of the ban, the ward supervisory staff of the AMC seized 344 kgs of banned plastic products and collected fine of Rs 3.5 lakh, it said.

AMC's health department has also served notices to 1,052 units and sealed 36 of them for flouting norms.

On the occasion of World Environment Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said in Gandhinagar that reverse vending machines (RVMs) for recycling of plastic bottles will be set up across the state to fight the menace of plastic pollution.

Addressing a gathering at Mahatma Mandir, Rupani said rag-pickers could earn Re 1 on each plastic bottle through the RVMs compared to 30 paise they get now. He said those who set up such machines will also earn Re 1 per bottle.

"Tendering process for setting up RVMs will begin within a week," he said.

The chief minister said the government would also consider banning plastic of up to 50 micron after consulting stake-holders.

The government has also launched a state-wide drive to rid the two-kilometre periphery of cities and towns of plastic, he said, adding that the government will also ensure that beaches along the Arabian Sea coast are also rid of plastic waste.