SHILLONG, Aug 16: The High Court of Meghalaya on Friday said the state government should stop plastic items at the entry-level.
It also asked the government to file a counter-affidavit specifying the steps it has taken to curtail the use of plastics within the boundaries of Meghalaya.
The court’s observation was based on a PIL filed by Phuyosa Yobin seeking a ban on the production, storage, circulation, and use of single-use plastic bags.
The bench of Chief Justice S Vaidyanathan and Justice W Diengdoh said the gravity of the matter can be gauged by the “accumulation of plastics” in shops next to the high court. It directed the government to conduct periodic raids at all shops and impose huge fines against those who use plastics.
“Strict enforcement of the law alone will be helpful in extermination of plastics from society,” the court said while adding such a move can be started from the temple premises.
“Temple authorities must ensure that there is no usage of plastic bags in and around the worshipping places. Periodical inspection should be conducted in nearby shops and if any shops are found to have stored plastic bags, heavy fines should be imposed on them and if the practice is continued, such shops should be kept under lock and seal. CCTV cameras shall be installed in all temples, so that if anybody carries plastics inside the temple that can be curtailed to some extent,” the court said.
The court also observed that the eradication of plastics has become a major challenge for governments as they have become an inseparable part of life although people are aware of the health hazards they pose.
“The disturbing factor is that even local milk vendors started packing milk or fruit beverages in plastic bottles, cups, and tumblers and food items are packed in plastic materials. We do not know the quality of the plastic. Plastic bags, especially single-use plastics pose a threat to the environment and such kinds of plastic are construed to be long chains of carbon atoms, which will exist for hundreds or even thousands of years,” the court said.
it added that the eradication of plastics could be achieved only by way of the introduction of economically feasible non-plastic substitutes by the government and every attempt should be made to implement the strategy to make the state a plastic-free zone.
