Despite ban, plastic use rampant across state

Despite a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags, their usage remains widespread across Himachal Pradesh, raising serious concerns about public health and environmental degradation.

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AK Mahajan, Professor in the Department of Environmental Science at the Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP), highlighted the continued use of plastic bags at traditional community feasts or Dham functions. “It is common to see people carrying hot food home in plastic bags after Dham meals. This practice is extremely harmful, as chemicals from the plastic can leach into the food, increasing the risk of cancer,” he warned.

Prof Mahajan said he has made several efforts to counsel people about the risks, but emphasised that district health authorities must take a proactive role in spreading awareness.

Meanwhile, in Kangra and Una districts, heaps of single-use plastic bags can still be seen piling up on roadsides and city entrances, despite strict laws banning them.

The state government had earlier introduced a policy banning single-use plastics, authorising officials to impose fines on violators. Another policy aimed to promote the use of plastic waste in road construction. However, implementation remains weak at the ground level.

Solid waste management has also emerged as a critical issue in Kangra district. Despite having two municipal corporations and 12 municipal councils, most urban local bodies lack proper waste management infrastructure. Even Dharamsala and Palampur, the most densely populated cities in the district and popular tourist hubs, do not have functional solid waste treatment plants.

In a positive development, the Dharamsala developmental block recently launched a village-level initiative to tackle plastic littering. Village panchayats have been empowered to impose fines on individuals found littering with plastic bags — a step expected to reduce the use of single-use plastics in rural areas.