The monitoring team consisting of officials from the Department of Environment (DoE) and police confiscated 280 kilograms of plastic bags kept for sale at eight different plastic bag wholesale shops near the Kalimati market area.
According to Devi Prasad Bhandari, a chemist at DoE, the plastic bags were confiscated as they did not meet the standards mentioned in the Plastic Bags Regulation and Control Directive-2068.
"The thickness of all the seized plastic bags was less than 30 microns and they also did not have the logo as required by the directive," said Bhandari.
The inspection of plastic bags had started from Balaju Industrial Area, Patan Industrial Area and finally ended at Kalimati area.
The report submitted by the monitoring team has identified the raided plastic bag wholesalers as Nita Store, Gurakshi Enterprises, Dhungale Plastic, Maharjan Store, Manandhar Plastic Store, New Milijuli Plastic Store, Adhikari Plastic and Tiwari Plastic Store.
"It seems that plastic producers are still supplying restricted plastic bags in Kathmandu despite our strict directive. The shop owners will be interrogated and those found guilty will face action," said Bhandari.
The government has announced to make the Kathmandu Valley plastic-free zone by April 14.
When Kathmandu finally turns into a plastic free zone, locals inside the Valley will be restricted from using plastic bags and its supply will also be banned in the valley. However, the plastic bags with thickness of 30 microns and more will be allowed.
"The offenders can be punished. They can be fined up to Rs 50,000 after having their products confiscated. It is better that all the stakeholders and even the locals comply with our effort in turning our city clean and safe from environmental degradation," said Suraj Pokharel, director general at Department of Environment.
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