The Modi government on Tuesday, 1 October, said PM's 'Swachhata Hi Seva' campaign is "not about banning single-use plastic but creating awareness and a people's movement to curb its use."
Swachh Bharat, through its official Twitter handle, clarified a Reuters report that said India has "held off" imposing a blanket ban on single-use plastics due to the economic slowdown.
The Reuters report says that for now the government will ask states to enforce existing rules against storing, manufacturing and using some single-use plastic items like polythene bags and styrofoam.
On Wednesday, the government was expected to announce a ban on single-use plastic to pave the way for India to become totally free of single-use plastic by 2022.
PM Modi has been pitching for a global revolution against single-use plastic. Even during his United Nations General Assembly speech, PM Modi said, ""I am pleased to inform this august assembly that even as I am addressing you today, a very large campaign is being started across the entire country to make India free of single-use plastic," he said during his address."
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