Govt to take action against plastic ban violators

The Delhi government has started action to counter an organised misinformation campaign to subvert the plastic bag ban in the city. Once again, it was a Hindustan Times report on March 5 that had sought the government’s attention on the radio campaign encouraging the use of plastic bags, a banned item under the law.

The Delhi government has started action to counter an organised misinformation campaign to subvert the plastic bag ban in the city.

HT Image

A section of the plastic lobby had been feeding wrong information to shopkeepers saying that the High Court had put a stay on the ban, which is not true. It resulted in plastic bags making a comeback at shops at several parts of the Delhi.

“It has come to the notice of the government... that certain groups have been propagating a misinformation campaign that the... notification (ban)... had been stayed. However, no court has issued any stay...,” read a statement issued by Delhi government on Tuesday.

Hindustan Times had published a report on Monday, March 16, exposing this covert misinformation campaign by the detractors of the ban.

The government statement also noted a string of advertisements on FM radio channels urging Delhiites to use plastic bags claiming that they were good for environment.

Once again, it was a Hindustan Times report on March 5 that had sought the government’s attention on the radio campaign encouraging the use of plastic bags, a banned item under the law.

“A Radio FM campaign... mentioning the benefits of the use of plastic bags...is not in the spirit of the Hon'ble High Court’s order,” the statement said.