SRINAGAR: The Ladakh Administration has ordered the strict enforcement of the ban on single-use plastic (SUP) across the rural areas of Kargil district, including Zanskar and Drass, directing residents, shopkeepers, vendors, institutions and Self-Help Groups to comply with the prohibition.
In a public notice, the Office of the District Panchayat Officer, Kargil, said the measure aims to protect the rural environment, safeguard public health and promote sustainable waste management.
The notice said the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified single-use plastic items are prohibited under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, and directions issued by the Union Territory Administration of Ladakh.
The administration urged commercial establishments and residents to adopt eco-friendly alternatives such as cloth bags, paper bags and reusable utensils. It also directed them to segregate waste at source, hand over waste only to authorised collection agencies, avoid littering or burning plastic waste, and cooperate with the Rural Development Department in maintaining plastic-free villages.
The notice warned that any individual, shopkeeper, commercial establishment or institution found violating the ban would face action under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, the enforcement Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the Union Territory Administration of Ladakh and other applicable government orders.
The public notice has been circulated to the Deputy Commissioner, Block Development Officers and other concerned departments for wide publicity and strict implementation across the district. [KNT]
