Confederation of All India Traders
“Vyapur Bhawan”
925/1, Naiwala, karol Bagh,New Delhi-110005.
Phone: +91-11-45099884, Telefax:+91-11-45032665
Email: teamcait@gmail.com Website: www.cait.in
Ref. No.: 3425/1/50
10th June, 2022
Shri Bhupendra Yadav
Hon’ble Minister for Environment Government of India
New Delhi
Dear Shri Bhupendra Yadav Ji,
Subject : Extension of Ban on usage of Single Use Plastic from Pt July
We invoke your kind attention towards ban on single use plastic to be enforced in the Country from 1st July,2022. In this context, we have to state as under :
The ban on single use plastic to be enforced from July,2o22, is a pragmatic step and much needed to protect the environment but in the absence of equivalent alternatives it could prove to be a nightmare for trade & commerce in India. The business community of the Country stands with the Government on this critical issue but at the same time would like to bring to your notice that sufficient preparations have not been done to provide an equivalent alternative to single use of plastic. In view of the mass usage of single use plastic throughout the Country, a complete ban will prove much detrimental for the trade and industry. Therefore, we take liberty to suggest an extension to the enforcement of this ban for a reasonable time may be made and in the meantime the Government while holding discussions with the stakeholders may draw equivalent alternatives to avoid any inflation in the prices of the goods where plastic is used. We suggest that a task force may be formed comprising of the senior officials and stakeholders to draw out a time line for implementation of this order and to explore equivalent alternatives.
Since traders are the first connect point for the consumers and the public, they will have to face the consequences though the traders selling the products are acting merely as a component of the supply chain making things available for the public. However, 98% of single use plastic is used by MNCs, Corporate Manufacturers, producers, e-commerce companies, warehousing hubs, Industry and other types of production units either in their production line or packaging of finished goods. The traders are under compulsion to sell goods in whatever packing they receive from the Manufacturer or source of origin. Unless and until, these Companies and manufacturing units are not compelled to stop use of single use plastic either in production line or in packing of finished goods, there will always be an occasion for usage of single use plastic at the consumer end . Therefore, effective steps should be taken to bind such manufacturers or place of origin to stop using single use plastic. Likewise equivalent alternate carry bags in place of plastic carry bags may also be made available so that plastic carry bags are not used for holding the goods.
It is to be noted that tens of thousands of industries and production units across the Country are engaged in plastic trade giving employment to crores of people in the Country. In the event of a stoppage of single use plastic, their business activities will come to an end which may also result in unemployment of all such people working in these companies. In this context, the Government should carve out some viable alternatives so that these industries and production houses may divert their business activities to such viable alternatives and employment is not disturbed.
It is a fact that if single use plastic is not used at production/ finishing stage or goods are not packed in single use plastic at the origin itself and are packed in alternative packaging automatically the usage of single use of plastic will come down to a drastic low level as the traders in supply chain will deliver the goods to consumers in alternative packaging. However, awareness and availability of alternative products are two core issues . We assure you utmost support of business community of the Country.
We are sure that you will be kind in accepting our request. However, a delegation of the CAIT wish to call upon your good self to apprise you in person the issues likely to be faced by the trading community. We are hopeful that you will be kind in according us an earliest convenient appointment.
Thank You. With regards
Yours truly
Praveen Khandelwal
National Secretary General
Confederation of All India Traders
