Shillong, Aug 27: The Meghalaya High Court has directed the state administration to continue its awareness programs and actions to stop the procurement, manufacture, sale, and use of single-use plastics less than 120 microns.
“We direct the State administration to continue its awareness programme and its action of stopping the procurement, manufacture, sale and use of plastic less than 120 microns,” said the division bench comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh in its order passed on Tuesday.
“The public interest litigation is thus, disposed of with liberty to any person to apply by a fresh application, if and when any breach of the orders of Court occurs,” it stated.
The High Court had previously directed the authorities to take action against the use of single-use plastics less than 120 microns, which pose a significant threat to the environment.
The court had directed the filing of action taken reports for East Jaintia Hills and East Khasi Hills districts, which were submitted by the Additional Advocate General.
The petitioner, Phuyosa Yobin, expressed satisfaction with the actions taken by the state to make the public aware of the harmful effects of plastic and to stop the use of single-use plastics.
The court noted that the indiscriminate use of plastic poses a significant threat to the purity of the environment. It also highlighted the difficulty in destroying or recycling used plastic, which accumulates as waste in public places and blocks drainage systems.
