An Indian visiting Singapore threw wastes in dustbin while back home he throws anywhere: High Court of Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 16, 2024

The High Court of Meghalaya (HCM) has directed the Temple authorities in the State to ensure there is no usage of plastic bags in and around the worshipping place and also for installation of CCTV cameras in all Temples to curtail the carrying of plastics inside the Temple.

The direction was passed by the Court on Friday during the trial of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No. 7 of 2024 filed by Advocate Phuyosa Yobin Vs State of Meghalaya & ors. Yobin filed the PIL for seeking to ban the production, storage, circulation and also use of Single Use Plastic (SUP) bags.

“The Government of Meghalaya must be vigilant that the plastics items are stopped at the entry level itself. next to the High Court, we are able to witness that there are accumulations of plastics in shops. A periodical raid should be conducted in all shops and the Government of Meghalaya should think of imposing huge amount of fine against those, who use plastics within the State of Meghalaya. Strict enforcement of law alone will be helpful in extermination of plastics from society,” said the order passed during the third hearing of the PIL.

The Court observed that in India, there was a ban of SUP carry bags thinner than 75 microns in the year 2021 and thereafter, it was decided to increase the thinner to 120 microns in respect of ban of SUP carry bags but due to the failure on the part of authorities concerned, the banned grade of carry bags started circulating in the low-end section of the economy. It was reported that the accumulation of annual plastic wastes is calculated to be 5.5 million tonnes approximately, on account of the reason that most of the hawkers, who run roadside shops and street vendors cannot afford to the costlier substitutes, as non-plastic substitutes are usually much more expensive.

The eradication of plastics could be achieved only by way of introduction of economically feasible non-plastic substitutes by the Government and every attempt should be made to implement the strategy, so as to make the State a plastic free zone. The disturbing factor is that even local milk vendors started packing milk or fruit beverages in plastic bottles, cups and tumblers and food items are packed in plastic materials. We do not know the quality of the plastic.

The Court observed, “If a citizen of India visits Singapore, he would throw plastics and other waste items only in the dustbin fearing imposition, of heavy penalty, whereas such items would be thrown to floor, once the same person lands India. Mere dream of conversion of the Country as that of Singapore alone will not be helpful and strict prohibitory measures and imposition of heavy fine on the violators are the only solution to eradicate plastics from the society, in addition to spreading awareness about the menace of plastics.”