A meeting of the District Task Force and NGOs, Civil Societies, DMC, and GBs restricting single-use plastics (SUPs) and reiterating the ban on the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sales, and use of SUPs was held at DC's conference hall Dimapur on 19th July 2022.

During the meeting, Deputy Commissioner pointed out that if the whole sellers/shopkeepers discourage the customers from using SUPs giving them alternatives such as cloth bags on nominal payment then the plastic menace would be reduced. He also requested that since churches play a vital role in Nagaland in all spheres of life, churches should give awareness to the masses to control the menace of SUPs. The Administrator, DMC, suggested having public awareness program about single-use plastics and their alternatives should be made available in the market. The GBs federation also suggested passing an order from DC's office and DMC's office to empower the colony's GBs and council to check the menace of SUPs while DUCCF suggested all manufacturing units, factories, and wholesalers involved in SUP be banned immediately.

The house decided that reports on daily activities by the ULB on SUPs will be submitted to the higher authority. Henceforth, in the case of delinquent shopkeepers, penalities of Rs.2000 for the first offense, Rs.5000 for the second offense, and Rs. 10,000 with the cancellation of the Trade License for the third offense will be imposed. It was also decided that five numbers of Vigilance Squads are being formed comprising of District Administration, Police, Nagaland Pollution Control Board, Municipal and Town Council Representative, GBs representative, DUCCFs representative, Sadar village councils, and GBs to strictly monitor and ensure ban on Single Use Plastics.

(Watimenla, IA Dimapur)