In a decisive move to curb plastic pollution, HP Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena announced a ban on plastic water bottles up to 500 ml made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), effective from June 1. The ban will be enforced across all government departments, corporations, and events, including those organized by Himachal Tourism Development Corporation and private hotels.
The decision was announced during a high-level review meeting focused on environmental conservation. CS Saxena emphasized the harmful effects of plastic on the environment and stressed the need for strict compliance and heightened public awareness regarding the ban.
In a related development, he also chaired another meeting that made it mandatory for all public and private transport vehicles, including taxis and tourist buses, to install garbage bins. Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) has already implemented this directive in its fleet, including waste collection at bus stands, workshops, and HRTC-approved eateries.
Further, the Chief Secretary directed concerned departments to extend plastic waste collection efforts to taxi stands, urban, and rural areas. He also led a session with the Department of Environment, Science, Technology and Climate Change to review the status of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) implementation. Guidelines were issued to ensure that producers take accountability for plastic waste management, with a focus on strengthening environmental protection in the state.
Senior officials from multiple departments, including Transport, HRTC, Rural Development, Tourism, and the Pollution Control Board, attended the meetings to align strategies for effective execution of the state’s environmental goals.
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