NGT bans plastic along Ganga

DEHRADUN: The National Green Tribunal imposed a complete ban on Friday on the use, sale, purchase and storage of plastic items like bags, plates and cutlery in towns located along the banks of the Ganga from Haridwar to Gangotri, a stretch of about 140 kilometres. Major tourist attractions like Haridwar’s Har-Ki-Pauri ghat and Rishikeshfall under the purview of the ban.
The bench headed by NGT chairperson justice Swatanter Kumar said that a fine of Rs 5,000 would be imposed on violators.He added that action would be taken against erring officials too. The tribunal also banned the sale, manufacture and storage of plastic till Uttarkashi from where the Ganga originates.
The NGT passed the order after observing that despite its earlier order, plastic was still being used in the Haridwar-Gangotri stretch. The panel had asked the state government in 2015 to ensure ban on sale of plastic bottles near the Ganga from Gaumukh to Haridwar. The state had imposed a ban on sale, use and storage of plastic bags, cups, glasses, packing material in the state after the Uttarakhand high court directed it to do so in December 2016.
The plastic ban, however, remains only on paper. Earlier this month, TOI reported that plastic containers were being sold at Har-ki-Pauri and other Ganga ghats as usual and that tea shops and restaurants were freely using plastic plates and tumblers. Many tourists seemed unaware of the ban. The NGT’s order re-enforcing the ban came on Friday while the bench was hearing a plea which alleged non-biodegradable plastic was affecting the river.