Ladakh Administration Enforces Ban on Single-Use Plastic in Rural Kargil
Kargil, KNT: The Ladakh Administration has ordered 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 move is aimed at protecting the rural environment, safeguarding public health and promoting sustainable waste management.
The notice states that the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of identified single-use plastic items are prohibited in accordance with the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, and directions issued by the Union Territory Administration of Ladakh.
Authorities have urged commercial establishments and residents to switch to eco-friendly alternatives such as cloth bags, paper bags and reusable utensils. They have also been directed 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 administration warned that any individual, shopkeeper, commercial establishment or institution found violating the ban would face action and penalties under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, the enforcement SOP of the UT 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]
