Assam: Only 250 ml water bottles will be banned from Oct 2

• Image Credit: Google

• Oct 1, 2023 | Dhupali Das

CM Sarma also announced that the state government would provide financial support by covering 10 percent of the costs...

Digital Desk: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced an extension of the state's water bottle ban, taking into account the concerns of indigenous youth entrepreneurs. Starting from October 2, the sale of 250 ml water bottles will be prohibited, while the ban on 500 ml water bottles will be extended for an additional year.

The decision comes after a group of enterprising indigenous youngsters, who had established water bottling industries specializing in 500-ml bottles, requested an extension of the ban implementation. They cited the need for time to upgrade their manufacturing machinery.

Explaining the rationale behind the adjustment, CM Sarma said, "After we initially announced the ban on water bottles below 1 liter to combat plastic waste, we received requests from these young entrepreneurs. In light of these considerations, we have decided to extend the ban on the sale of 500-ml water bottles by one year to allow these entrepreneurs sufficient time for necessary equipment upgrades."

CM Sarma also announced that the state government would provide financial support by covering 10 percent of the costs required for machinery upgrades.

Back in July, the Assam government had initially announced the prohibition of water bottle sales below 1 liter as part of their commitment to environmental conservation and reducing plastic waste in the state. This extension demonstrates the government's willingness to support indigenous businesses while pursuing its environmental goals.