Packaged mineral water to be banned in Sikkim from Jan 1

In a bid to save environment, packaged mineral water will be banned in Sikkim with effect from 1 January 2022.

This was informed by state Forest & Environment Department in an official notification.

This is the first step towards a plastic-free environment for the next generation. The state will now generate and offer more eco-friendly and organic products as an alternative to plastic.

This step is taken to transition and join the state government’s campaign of banning plastic in the region.

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Meanwhile, the notification comes as a partial relief to businesses like hotels and restaurants that can slowly phase out plastic by adapting to using the larger bottles till alternatives are available.

Worth mentioning here, this is not the first time that Sikkim has prohibit utilization of plastic water bottles.

The Sikkim government has also banned their use in government buildings and events since 2016.

Back in 2012, the town of Lachen in North Sikkim declared itself plastic-free. Visitors were urged to either dispose of their plastic bottles or transfer their water into reusable bottles available at the establishments.

Sikkim has also become the first Indian state to target single-use plastic bottles, thereby one of India’s environmental leaders. It is also the first state in the country to adopt organic farming.

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