(This story originally appeared in on Nov 16, 2017)

MUMBAI: The state government will ban plastic packaged drinking water bottles from government premises, schools, colleges, mass functions and hotels from Gudi Padwa 2018 and subsequently extend it to private offices.Also proscribed will be plastic sachets, cups, all bags and packaging material as the state seeks to become a plastic-free state from next March. Officials said the Maharashtra Plastic Carry Bags (Manufacture & Usage) Rules, 2006, will be amended to accommodate the extended plastic ban. Importantly, the ban will not include reusable plastic water bottles.The quantum of fines if a trader in the state is found selling or storing any plastic bag after Gudi Padwa will be increased. Environment minister Ramdas Kadam outlined the contours of the state’s plan to become plastic-free from next March at a meeting on Thursday with stakeholders and implementing authorities.“There are six states in the country that have achieved plastic-free status and we are going to send a team to study their model and table a proposal to the cabinet for consideration,” said Kadam.The government would like to start the ban on packaged water bottles from Mantralaya and other government offices to create a role model before extending it to private offices.“We should start from home (Mantralaya) and when we can implement it here, we can ask the others to follow,” said a senior official. Currently, offices of bureaucrats and ministers at Mantralaya serve water to guests in PET bottles, every meeting has packaged water bottles on tables, and thousands of visitors go in and out carrying plastic bottles.“We are rolling out the issue in advance to give traders and consumers time to accept the issue and make necessary changes,” said an official. The government will hold consultations with beverage manufacturers and industrial leaders in the next few weeks. It will urge them to look at environment-friendly options, like using compostable plastic.Kadam added: “We are asking big retailers to make alternative arrangements well in advance so that the policy can be rolled out smoothly in March.”The government will use funds under the district planning and development committees (DPDC) to raise awareness and sensitise people. “We are also looking at dipping into CSR funds to incentivise cloth and jute bags,” added the official.The ban on plastic bags less than 50 microns thick was imposed after the 2005 deluge that claimed several lives in Mumbai and its suburbs. But implementation has been weak, and officials accept that.Activists are wary of the government plans, saying implementation is the key in such decisions. “It is a good thing that the government is renewing efforts to curb plastic use in the state, but implementation is the main thing. Government agencies lack the will and the laws are not stringent enough to act as deterrent,” said Nitin Sarpotdar, a Dadar-based activist.