India Intensifies Crackdown on Plastic Pollution Amid Gaps in Enforcement and Data Reporting | Delhi News
New Delhi: India’s campaign against plastic pollution has gained renewed momentum with expanded enforcement drives and nationwide awareness initiatives. However, persistent gaps in compliance and inconsistencies in data reporting continue to hinder the full impact of the government’s policy framework. Responding to a parliamentary question, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh , informed the Lok Sabha that India generates around 40 lakh tonnes of plastic waste annually , a figure that has remained largely unchanged between 2020 and 2023. The government, in collaboration with non-governmental organisations, has undertaken sustained measures—including the ban on single-use plastics , confiscation of prohibited items, and the imposition of financial penalties —to curb plastic waste generation. However, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has highlighted discrepancies in waste generation data. A recent audit indicated wides...