Single-use plastic ban implemented in protected areas of Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The ban on single-use plastic inside protected areas in the state came into effect from Monday at various places including sanctuaries, national parks and tiger reserves. Eco-tourism sites and nature camps also followed suit from the same day.

Forest officials were seen preventing tourists from entering the sanctuaries in Sunabeda, Kapilash and other areas with plastic bottles and polythene etc.
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Prakash Chand Gogineni, field director of Similipal Tiger Reserve, said the ban has been implemented as per the forest department guidelines issued last month. “Visitors are being encouraged not to carry any single-use plastic items into the forest right in front of the entrance,” he said. Chandka Wildlife Division officials said awareness boards would be installed to sensitize tourists visiting the forest and sanctuary area. Officials said that from now on, visitors carrying food items in plastic wrappers are being asked to throw these wrappers in designated places and dustbins and not litter in protected areas.
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The forest department had announced a ban on single-use plastic inside protected areas from April 1. Officials said violation of the directions issued under Section 33 (C) of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, could result in arrest and jail term. Fine.
Officials said the guidelines have been designed to protect forest habitats from the dangers of single-use plastics and ensure that visitors and the public at large are not inconvenienced.