The ban on plastic and polythene having thickness of less than 50 microns came into force in Uttar Pradesh from Sunday with a fine up to Rs 1 lakh and six months in jail for violators, according to a state government order.
After the Uttar Pradesh government warned of stern action against officials who failed to implement the plastic ban in the state capital, police in Lucknow had launched a helpline on Thursday, asking people to inform them about any violation.
“People should come forward and call anti-crime helpline 7839861314 to report the manufacturing or supply of plastic in the city,” Senior Superintendent of Police Kalanidhi Naithani had said, adding that the identity of informers would not be disclosed.
The initiative came after the state government on August 26 said stern action would be taken against officials if the banned plastic/polythene bags and material were sold in any part of Lucknow from next month.
After August 31, stern action would be taken against any police station in-charge, civic official, commercial tax officer, magistrate and circle officers, if the sale of the banned plastic was noticed in their areas, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi had said.
He said the officials had also been asked to inform traders and the people about the ban.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech this year and subsequently in his monthly radio address ‘Mann ki Baat’ had appealed to people not to use plastic to protect the environment.