Nepal's Budget speech 2021 Reinforces the Plastic Ban and Afforestation Program

 

Nepal's Budget speech 2021 Reinforces the Plastic Ban and Afforestation Program

Fifteen million seedlings will be planted in Chure and Terai region under the afforestation program. Varieties of fruit trees will be planted to develop the green city in urban areas along roadsides, residential areas, and open fields. The Nepal Army, Nepal Police, and the Armed Forces will also be mobilized for the afforestation and protection program.  

The production, import, sales, distribution of 40 microns, and thinner plastics will be banned entirely from the 15th July 2021 to reduce the environmental pollution from plastic pollutants. To replace plastic in all commercial enterprises, including malls and departmental stores,  arrangements must be made to use cotton, jute, or paper bags instead of thinner plastic bags.

The industries manufacturing plastic bags or sheets below 40 microns are to be subsidized to replace new machinery to produce more environmentally friendly bags. 

Back in 2015, immediately after Government of Nepal's ban was enforced, with the proper monitoring of plastics was done in and out of valley, especially at the factories. At that time more than 20 factories, retailers, and wholesalers within Kathmandu Valley were fined for violating rule. Four- Thousand kilograms of plastic was confiscated. But after the massive earthquake, monitoring and controlling mechanism failed to restrict the plastic use.

Bangladesh is the first country to ban single-use plastic bags in 2002, after polyethylene's clogged the national's drainage systems  during the flooding.

Now, the ban is implemented but there isn't proper discussion of the alternatives.