Ban on Plastic in HP

♤ State government enacted the Himachal Pradesh Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, 1995 in order to prevent throwing or depositing non- biodegradable garbage in public drains, roads.

♤ It has then increased the minimum thickness of plastic carry bags to 70 microns of virgin material, which exceeded the 20 micron thickness recommended by Central Rules.

♤ Further, the state Government has taken a Cabinet decision to ban plastics altogether in the entire state since 2009.

Participatory Conservation of Lakes in the Region

♤ The Naini Lake is the sole source of drinking water for Nainital town, an important tourist destination in Uttarakhand state.

♤ Increasing inflow of tourists, urban waste making its way into the lake is adversely affecting water quality.

♤ To conserve the water body, the residents have switched on to a scientific garbage disposal system - under the project name ‘Mission Butterfly’ by Nainital Lake Conservation Project.

♤ The sweepers, on a small monthly charge, collect waste from each household and directly transfer it to the compost pits. Apart from the residents, schools and hotel owners have extended full cooperation to the authorities, to save its precious eco-system.

♤ In addition, they are able to generate income and employment by converting it to manure.