SHIMLA -28 April, 2025-Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena presided over the 5^th meeting of State Task Force for elimination of Single Use Plastic (SUP) in the State of Himachal Pradesh here today.

He said that Himachal Pradesh was the forerunner state in implementing the ban on the use of Single Use Plastic which has been appreciated across the country. Due to the hazards caused by polythene, the government banned the use, sale and manufacture of polythene and plastic carry bags made from non-biodegradable materials in the state.

He directed stakeholder departments and all Deputy Commissioners to conduct inspections every Saturday for checking of violations under HP Non-biodegradable (Control) Act, 1995 and to convene a meeting of the District Level Task Force and submit action taken report on monthly basis to the office of Director Environment, Science Technology and Climate Change.

Prabodh Saxena directed all the Deputy Commissioners to get registered on the online portal for annual reporting under Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2024 and to implement the regulations notified by the State government in the year 2024-25 to ensure the imposition of total ban on the use of identified single use plastic items. He directed the stakeholder departments to work in a campaign mode to sensitize the people about the Single Use Plastic and urged Deputy Commissioners to ensure that small water bottles are not served during the government meetings.