PM may launch drive against single use plastic from Mathura on Sep 11

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to launch the campaign against single use plastic (SUP) on September 11 from Mathura.
Sources said the government is also likely to come out with a detailed description of what all constitute SUP. Till now all government departments have been following the global definition of SUP or disposable plastics, which include items such as plastic bags, straws, coffee stirrers, soda and water bottles and most food packaging.
“There is a lot of debate across the country on the use of packaged drinking water bottles. What we have found is that nearly 60% of these used bottles are recycled in India, which is much higher than in any other country. So, we spot less used water bottles as compared to other SUP items. We are preparing a roadmap to deal with the SUPs and it will be out soon,” said an official.
Meanwhile, ministries and departments are moving fast in an effort to shun the use of SUP products and some have even imposed an immediate ban. For example, road transport ministry has ordered a stop to their use "with immediate effect" and food and consumer affairs departments have directed no use of SUPs after September 15.
Housing and urban affairs ministry was one of the first movers and had banned the use of plastic water bottle months ago. It has gone a step further replacing plastic files with paper-made files. Use of SUP water bottles has been stopped in Parliament complex also.
Union food minister Ram Vilas Paswan said he did not spot a single SUP water bottle or other items when he took round of 50 rooms in his ministry on Thursday. "The message has gone down very well. We won't wait for September 15," he added.
A circular issued by road transport ministry on Tuesday has ordered that all its wings including NHAI, IRC, NHIDCL must use locally produced eco-friendly "kulhads, clay glasses/ plates" in place of SUP items.