Indian capital bans plastic bags, chewable tobacco products

(September 14, 2012) A blanket ban on manufacturing, sale, storage and display of tobacco products like 'gutka' products in India's national capital of Delhi has come into effect from Thursday. The ban will also include 'pan masalas' and similar products containing nicotine and tobacco. The Delhi government on Wednesday issued a notification to enforce the ban. The government on Monday had decided to impose the ban as it said gutka products are a health hazard. Many other states in India like Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Kerala, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar have already announced ban on gutka products. A similar comprehensive ban came into effect in Gujarat on Wednesday. Officials said violators of the ban may face a maximum jail term of six months and a penalty of Rs 2 lakh. Finance Department officials said government may incur an annual revenue loss of around Rs 40 crore due to the ban.
Meanwhile another ban, this time on plastic bags is coming into force in the Indian capital next week. B.M.S Reddy, an engineer with Delhi's government said that the manufacture and sale of all types of plastic sheets and bags will be banned in the city, citing their environmental dangers. Reddy said on Wednesday that the ban will include shopping bags, garbage bags and all kinds of plastic film and storage packets. Only plastic bags required for medical waste will be exempt. In 2009, Delhi banned the use of plastic shopping bags, but authorities have had little success enforcing the ban. Plastic bags also pose a risk to the thousands of cows that roam the city and end up swallowing them while foraging for food in Delhi's open garbage dumps.