Lack of manpower to regulate factories not complying with plastic waste management rules: Govt

State pollution control boards, urban local bodies and gram panchayats do not have adequate manpower and funds to regulate plastic carry bag manufacturing units that are not complying with plastic waste management (PWM) rules, a report by a government body has said.

Minister of State for Environment Mahesh Sharma in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha said that there are 21 states and union territories which have notified stringent norms and imposed ban on plastic carry bags and other such items.

He said some states such as Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim have been successful in implementing the regulations.

"The plastic carry bags or products are majorly manufactured by unorganised sector. The annual report submitted by CPCB on implementation of PWM Rules, 2016 mentions that the SPCBs, PCCs and ULBs and Gram Panchayats do not have adequate manpower, infrastructure, funds etc. to regulate factories involved in manufacturing of carry bags not complying with the Rules," he said.

He said the Environment Ministry has already prohibited the manufacture, sale, storage, and use of carry bags and sheets of less than 50 microns through the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.