JOIN USKarnataka State Plastic Association on Wednesday urged the government to reconsider its decision of banning plastic in the state as it had directly affected the employment of 70,000 people.
Vijay Kumar, the president of the association, told reporters, “As many as 750 plastic units in Karnataka, including 400 in city, have been closed down following the ban on plastic items. Plastic products worth Rs 300 crore are lying in godowns and the non-performing assets are running into Rs 3,000 crore. To start a plastic unit, one need to get as many as 36 licenses. After issuing them, the government has ordered closure of the units.”
Kumar added, plastic contributes only 0.6% to garbage. The state government banned plastic through a gazette notification on March 11, 2016. A matter is pending before the National Green Tribunal. It will come up for hearing on July 15.
The association has urged the government to implement the Central Pollution Control Board norm of banning plastic below 50 microns.
Bruhat Bengaluru Hotel Owners Association secretary Madhukar Shetty said that the hotels under the association have stocked plastic items that would last till August. The hoteliers are clueless on what to do with the plastic items.
They expressed displeasure over the raids conducted by the BBMP and the pollution control board on hotels and restaurants.