In a major step for environment protection, the Rajasthan government on Monday announced a complete ban on the use of plastic carry-bags all over the State from August 1. A notification declared the entire State a “plastic carry-bag-free zone.” The ban will also apply to manufacture, storage, import, sale and transport of plastic carry-bags. Violation of the order will attract prosecution under Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act, which prescribes jail for five years or a fine of up to Rs.1 lakh or both. Recurrence of the offence may lead to penalty of Rs.5,000 a day.The state plastic manufacturers' had demanded the ban be restricted to only carry bag and not all plastic products.
