SHILLONG: West Garo Hills deputy commissioner Ram Singh issued an order on Wednesday prohibiting use of plastic throughout the district from August 15.Under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code and also under rule 12(4) of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, the DC has prohibited use of polythene with a thickness of less than 50 microns, including plastic cups, plates and thermocol. This will help cut down on the proliferation of plastic waste at market places in urban and rural areas."Any person found violating the provisions of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 shall be liable to be penalized under Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986. This will lead to imprisonment up to 5 years with a fine which may extend to Rs 1 lakh. In case of repeat offenders, an additional fine, which may extend up to Rs 5000 every day, may be imposed," the DC cautioned."The usage of plastic carry bags, plastic films, mineral water bottles and thermocol causes inconvenience in our daily lives. These not only cause environmental hazards as plastic is not biodegradable but also lead to wastage issues. Most of the areas in the Garo Hills being villages, there are no collection and recycling mechanisms in place, resulting in heaps of non-biodegradable waste," Singh said."Concerns about usage and disposal of plastic and thermocol are diverse and include accumulation of waste in landfills, water bodies and in natural habitats, leading to physical problems among wild animals due to ingestion or entanglement in plastic. The leaching of chemicals from plastic products and the potential for plastics to transfer chemicals to wildlife and humans are increasing," he added

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