Sale of low-quality plastic products should be banned; High Court directs to develop mobile app

KOCHI: The High Court has directed that strict action be taken to prevent the sale of substandard plastic products. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice S Manu has directed the state board to develop a mobile app within three months on the model implemented by the Central Pollution Control Board to report the manufacturing and sale of plastic products by unregistered establishments.

The petition filed by Malappuram native K.V. Sudhakaran seeking a ban on the manufacturing and sale of plastic products has been disposed of. The petition alleged that establishments not registered under the Plastic Waste Management Act are manufacturing and selling substandard products. The government and the Pollution Control Board have informed that steps have been taken to prevent this.

Inspection should be conducted

1. Awareness should be created against the sale of substandard plastic products, the High Court said
2. Local bodies and the Pollution Control Board should take steps to prevent the manufacturing and sale of non-recyclable plastic products. For this, inspections should be conducted jointly and separately.
3. Enforcement squads should conduct inspections in malls, markets, educational institutions, and movie theaters. Inspections should also be conducted in manufacturing centres.