Manufacturers appeal for one-year stay on implementation of ban

Plastic bag manufacturers are unlikely to follow the ban on carry bags below 30 micron — at least for now.

In a meeting with Chief Secretary S C Aggarwal on Tuesday, they traders have sought time for a year to clear the bags, which they have already manufactured. Inderjit Singh Gola, vice-president of Punjab Plastic Manufacturers Association, said: "The chief secretary has assured us some relief after the Cabinet meets shortly."

"We have also been asked to print micron as well as registration numbers and the company name on every polybag. But this is not possible. We are printing these on every lot of 1 kg packing," he added.

Municipal Commissioner A K Sinha had also called a meeting of the wholesalers, manufacturers and traders of plastic bags, where he had asked them to stop supplying bags below 30 micron in the market. "Though the members have agreed to implement the ban, they were hopeful that the chief secretary will be able to give them some relief at least for the time being. But till then, our teams will ensure that the ban is implemented," said Sinha.

Meanwhile, plastic bags below 30 micron are freely available in the market — even though the ban was enforced about a fortnight ago.

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