Assam to ban packaged drinking water bottles of less than 1 litre

 

 

THE Assam Government has decided to ban packaged drinking water bottles of less than 1 litre from October 2. From October 2024, bottles of less than 2 litres will also be banned in the State, Chief Minister Himanta Biswas Sarma said after a cabinet meeting on Friday evening. “The cabinet decided to ban the production and use of drinking water bottles made of PET of less than 1 litre in volume. The ban will come into effect from October 2 with a three-month transition period provided,” he said.

 

Polyethylene terephthalate or PET is a type of polyester that is widely used in the production of plastic bottles, films and other products. It is known for its strength, flexibility and chemical resistance. “We will also strictly implement the ban on single-use plastic in the State as per the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021,” the Chief Minister said.

 

At the cabinet meeting, consolidated administrative approval was given for phase I of ADB-aided ‘Climate Resilient Brahmaputra Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Project’. It will be executed through Flood and River Erosion Management Agency of Assam at a cost of Rs 2,097.88 crore. Under the project, integrated flood and riverbank erosion risk management activities would be taken up in the main stem of the Brahmaputra river at vulnerable reaches of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Morigaon, Kamrup and Goalpara districts.