Though Mr Kadam had announced a ban on plastic water and cold drink bottles initially, the government found that it would be difficult to implement and provide an alternate solution. (Photo: AFP)

Mumbai: The government will impose a plastic ban from Gudi Padwa (March 18) across the state, but it diluted the measure by excluding some items in the first phase. The state Cabinet on Thursday evening approved a proposal banning items such as plastic bags, plates, glasses and spoons in the initial stage. A committee under the chairmanship of environment minister Ramdas Kadam will be set up to decide the list of items to be banned periodically over the next few months. Water and cold drink bottles are exempted from for now. 

Mr Kadam had announced the plastic ban a few months earlier and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had given him his consent. The plastic waste disposal issue is growing serious by the day, and — looking at gravity of the problem — the state government has decided to ban plastic. The environment department has been working on the ban for the last few months. Plastic manufacturers’ associations had opposed the proposed ban and agitated against it. But the state decided to go ahead anyway.

Though Mr Kadam had announced a ban on plastic water and cold drink bottles initially, the government found that it would be difficult to implement and provide an alternate solution. So while approving the plastic ban proposal, government appointed a committee that will look into the practical difficulties of the ban’s implementation and decide the items to be banned, sources said.