West Bengal bans plastic bags below 75 microns of thickness from next month

Manufacturers of plastic carry bags have already been informed about the decision

PTI |   14.06.22 : The West Bengal government has decided to ban the use of plastic bags below 75 microns of thickness in the state from July 1. 

Urban development and municipal affairs minister Firhad Hakim confirmed this on Tuesday.  

A total of 1,026 manufacturers of plastic carry bags in the state have already been informed about the decision, the minister said.

"The use of plastic bags below 75 microns of thickness will be banned in West Bengal from July 1. Anybody using plastic below that level will be fined," he added. 

Hakim said the new directive was in line with the new guideline set by the Central Pollution Control Board. 

"We have circulated the notification across departments and enforcement agencies," the minister added.

From July 1, sellers will be fined Rs 500, while purchasers need to cough up Rs 50 if they are found using plastic packets with a thickness below 75 microns, he said.

An official of the urban development department said since very thin plastic bags were in use ignoring restrictions, the government had now decided to take strict action in this regard.