The Meghalaya High Court has expressed its strong disapproval of the state’s lackluster enforcement of its own ban on thin plastics, demanding immediate and tangible steps from district officials to ensure compliance.
During a hearing on Tuesday, May 14th, a division bench led by Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh scrutinized a government report detailing the measures taken to restrict the use of plastic below the 120-micron threshold. The court sharply observed that effective action appeared to be largely confined to the East Khasi Hills district, with minimal implementation evident across the remaining eleven districts.
The court’s intervention stems from Public Interest Litigation No. 7/2024, initially brought before former Chief Justice S. Vaidyanathan in August of the previous year. The petition highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive plastic ban due to its detrimental effects on the environment.
Upon its initial review of the case in November 2024, the current bench acknowledged the widespread practicality of inexpensive plastic while simultaneously underscoring its significant environmental hazards. The court pointed out the enduring nature of plastic waste, its resistance to easy recycling or safe disposal, and its contribution to choked waterways and drainage systems, ultimately leading to the accumulation of unsightly garbage in public spaces.
In a decisive move, the High Court has now mandated specific actions for all Deputy Commissioners throughout Meghalaya’s twelve districts. These directives include the continuation of public awareness campaigns on the harmful effects of plastic, the extensive use of various media to educate the populace about the dangers to personal health and the environment, the provision of a reasonable timeframe for the public to return or properly dispose of plastic items below 120 microns, a strict prohibition on the manufacture of such thin plastics within the state, and the proactive identification of areas with prevalent use of banned plastics, followed by inspections, seizures, and appropriate legal action against violators.
The state administration has been instructed to gather detailed progress reports from all Deputy Commissioners and submit a consolidated report to the High Court by June 20th, 2025. The next hearing on this critical matter is scheduled for June 25th, 2025.
This judicial push for stricter enforcement arrives against a backdrop of increasing concern over plastic contamination in Meghalaya’s vital rivers and forests, which are crucial to the state’s ecological balance and its thriving tourism sector.