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Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has asked the Central government to file an affidavit on whether it has considered the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) recommendation to include plastic flowers with thickness less than 100 microns in the list of single-use plastics. Have done.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Upadhyay and Borkar was hearing a writ petition seeking a ban on the use of artificial flowers used as gifts or decorations. The court directed Maharashtra and the Central Government to file affidavits in response to the petition.
The Bombay High Court had earlier said that it did not see any impediment in imposing a ban on consumption and sale.
The court today said that the CPCB had written to the Central Government saying that the committee of experts constituted by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals had included plastic flowers in the list of banned single-use plastic items, hence the Board requested the Central Government Was to include plastic flowers in the list.
However, the Central government counsel told the court that the expert committee had not recommended inclusion of plastic flowers in the list of single-use plastic items.
Therefore, the court has asked the central government counsel to obtain instructions on the details of the board's letter. The Central Government has also been directed to file an affidavit stating whether the recommendations contained in the letter written by the Board have been considered or not and whether any decision has been taken or not.
The Growers Flowers Council (GFCI) expressed concern over the use of plastic flowers with a thickness of less than 100 microns. Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in a notification issued on March 8, 2022, ordered the ban on sale, distribution. , storage and manufacturing of single-use plastic items. The Environment Ministry has also issued a notification banning various items but plastic flowers are not mentioned in it. The petitioner argued that this should also be included in the prohibited item.
Under the Maharashtra Non-Biodegradable Waste (Control) Act, 2006, the Government of Maharashtra is empowered to issue a notification banning the use of such items. On 14 October 2020, the Agriculture Commissioner expressed his concern about the use of plastic flowers through a letter to the Environment Ministry.
