Govt may shut plastic bag making units

With the existing ban on use of plastic bags not being very effective, the Delhi government is now considering closing down over 400 manufacturing units of such items across the city.

With the existing ban on use of plastic bags not being very effective, the Delhi government is now considering closing down over 400 manufacturing units of such items across the city.

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A top official said the government was determined to rid the city of plastic bags and a final decision on shutting down the manufacturing units is expected to be taken very soon.

"There are practical difficulties in enforcing the ban on use of plastic bags. So we are considering closing down the manufacturing units of plastic bags so that these bags are not produced at all," the official said.

Currently, around 400 plastic bag manufacturing units are operating in the city and the total yearly turnover of these units is be in the range of Rs 800 crore to Rs 1,000 crore, an industry expert said.

The Delhi government had in January, 2009 imposed a ban on the use of plastic bags in various markets, shopping malls, hotels and hospitals but it has not been very effective.

About 250 traders have been fined in the last two years for violating the ban.