AGARTALA, November 21 (TIWN): Inspite of banning the use of plastic carry bags here at Tripura the traders were found using the plastic bags at large. However, today in view of the hazardous effect of the plastic bags a team of Tripura State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) conducted a raid at Agartala Durga Chowmuhni Bazar area and seized as many as plastic carry bags from the traders and fined them.

On a sudden drive, TSPCB on Friday conducted a raid at Agartala Durga Chowmuhni Bazar and seized as many as plastic carry bags and imposed a fine of Rs.100 to the poor section of the traders.

Tripura has imposed a complete ban on the manufacture, import, storing, transport, sale and use of plastic carry bags in the state in view of its hazardous effect on the environment. The decision was made under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the Plastics Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011. And on its notice it has been said that for any violation of the ban, the authority would impose a fine of Rs.1 lakh or jail for a maximum term of five years or both. It was also said that in case of any violation of the government order by any institution or by any industry or by any shop, the TSPCB would issue closure order and would also issue order for disconnection of electricity of that institution or industry or shop.

The state government had originally imposed the ban on plastic bags from January 2014, but challenging the state government's decision, the All India Plastic Industries Association filed a writ petition in the Tripura High Court, which upheld the decision of the state government.

And later quashing the writ petition, the HC of Tripura upheld the move of the state government for banning of plastic bags. Earlier the plastic association said that the central govt. law on use of plastic bags did not cover below 40 microns, but Tripura’s Science and Technology and Environment department had clearly banned all forms of uses of plastic bags.