Maharashtra: Confederation of All India Traders asks 1,600 trade bodies to implement ban on single-use plastics

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAT) has asked around 1,600 trade associations in Maharashtra and 40,000 across the country to abide by the rules of the single-use plastic ban orders. In addition, a month-long comprehensive awareness campaign has been launched among traders across the country from July 1.

Earlier, the CAT had demanded a year extension to implement the ban on single-use plastics. They had also written to Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupendra Yadav about their demand.

Shankar Thakkar, president of the CAT of the Mumbai region and national president of the All India Federation of Edible Oil Traders, said that they have appealed to the traders not to use plastic bags which were hitherto used in packing or delivery of goods.

“We have advised traders not to take delivery of any product that uses single-use plastics and appealed to manufacturers not to deliver any product in single-use plastics,” said Thakkar.

Meanwhile, the trade body has appealed to the government to plan for the rehabilitation of thousands of manufacturing units engaged in single-use plastics to prevent employment loss.

However, the trade body has asked such manufacturing units to continue to repay loans taken from banks and financial institutions.

“Banks and financial institutions have a large stake in the single-use plastics industry, and in the event of a complete ban without providing an equal option, India's retail business will suffer huge losses and a major financial crisis and the brink of business bankruptcy,” said Thakkar.

Earlier, CAT had urged to extend the last date to implement the ban on single-use plastics from July 1, 2022 for a period of one year. “We had also requested to form a joint committee of government officials and representatives of stakeholders to suggest alternatives to single-use plastics,” added Thakkar.