Jute and cotton bags are back in demand as Himachal Pradesh gets ready to say goodbye to non-biodegrable polythene bags on Friday.

In 1999, Himachal Pradesh was the first state to ban recycled colour polythene bags. All kinds of polythene bags are currently banned in Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Chandigarh.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said traders had been given more than one and a half month’s time to switch over to biodegrable bags.

“I appeal to citizens and traders to create awareness about the need for discarding harmful polythene bags and use only cotton and jute bags—now easily available in the markets. In fact, a few days ago traders met him in Dharamshala and told him about the availability of sufficient alternatives to polythene,” he told mediapersons on Thursday.

Initially, the ban was to come into force on August 15, as per a Cabinet decision taken in June 2009. Opposing the decision, traders had met the CM and asked for a month’s time to exhaust their stock of carrybags.

Dhumal said: “Besides providing alternatives to the citizens, who will also be required to stop using polythene carry bags, the Government is exploring news ways to ensure collection of polythene bags and their end use in activities like construction of roads.”

Under the provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Non-Biodegrable Garbage (Control) Act 1995, violators of the ban, including citizens, tourists, traders and commercial establishments, will be punished with a fine of Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000. The notification issued by the HP Pollution Control Board says the dumping of used polythene carry bags at public places and hill slopes will also be an offence.

... contd.