Latest news with #DepositRefundScheme2025
Hindustan Times
01-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Himachal: Security fee for plastic use at tourist destinations soon
The Himachal cabinet on Saturday decided to come up with a Deposit Refund Scheme 2025 as a pilot project to effectively manage and reduce non-biodegradable waste. Under this scheme, consumers will pay a refundable deposit over and above the product price which will be returned upon the return of the empty packing material, such as glass bottles, plastic beverage containers, aluminium cans, liquid packaging, flexible plastic packaging and multilayered packages. The decision regarding where and when it will be implemented will be taken later. Under the new scheme, tourists purchasing plastic or polythene-packed materials will be charged a nominal security fee, which will be refunded upon the return of the packaging. The initiative, which will be monitored via QR codes, is being implemented on a trial basis to assess its effectiveness in reducing waste generation and promoting sustainable tourism practices. Shimla produces nearly 2,800-tonne solid waste, including plastic, and Manali produces over 1,100 tonnes per month. During the tourist season, these two tourist hot spots produce 9,000 tonnes in two months. As per an estimate, 15,000 tonnes of garbage is produced per month in the state where many districts lack garbage disposal mechanism. 'The idea is to encourage tourists and vendors to take responsibility for the waste they generate. The scheme will initially be launched in high-footfall areas and will help address both waste management and pollution concerns,' said industries minister Harshwardhan Chauhan, while briefing the media after the cabinet meeting. Chauhan said, 'Plastic and polythene are a major challenge in our hill regions. This refundable fee mechanism is a step towards behavioural change. This will be a trial-based scheme, initially to be started at key tourist destinations. This will be based on QR code scanning. Vendors will charge a nominal fee and that will be refunded once plastic pack is submitted at collection centres,' he added. 'Every policy, especially those linked to the environment, must reflect long-term ecological responsibility,' he said. Himachal was the first state in the South East Asian region to ban coloured polythene recycled bags and also to enact law in 1995 and became the first state in India to ban the plastic and polythene carry bags in 2009. In 2011, plastic cutlery was banned. Later in 2013, with the recommendation of a committee and directions of the HC, single-use snacks' packets, wrappers and other packaging materials and also of plastic, plates besides packed materials, cups and glasses, were banned, but this was challenged in the Supreme Court. The thermocol cutlery was later banned in 2018. 500-ml plastic bottles banned The Himachal Pradesh government has banned the use of small polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles up to 500 ml from June 1. The state government has urged people to start using glass bottles, water dispensers/kiosks of steel containers, etc. Suresh Atri, chief scientific officer of the department of environmental science technology and climate change, said that if anyone violates this rule, he may have to pay a fine ranging from ₹500 to ₹25,000. 'This decision has been taken to protect the environment. Effective steps will be taken for recycling PET bottles in Himachal Pradesh,' he added.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Himachal Pradesh cabinet decides to fill 700 posts of Home Guard and regularise 203 panchayat secretaries
Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh cabinet has decided to fill 700 posts of Home Guards volunteer and agreed to regularise 203 zila parishad cadre panchayat secretaries who have completed two years on contract by March 31, 2025. Chaired by chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Saturday's cabinet meeting also removed a key hurdle for aspiring resident doctors by scrapping the one-year mandatory field posting requirement before applying for senior residency. The change brings uniformity to eligibility criteria at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, and Dr Rajendra Prasad Govt Medical College, Tanda, aligning them with the Atal Institute of Medical Superspecialities (AIMSS), Chamiyana. In a bid to cut plastic waste, ministers approved a pilot 'Deposit Refund Scheme 2025'. Under the initiative, consumers will pay a refundable deposit when buying products with certain packaging, such as glass bottles, plastic containers, cans and multilayered materials. The deposit will be returned once the empty packaging is returned. Other decisions included relocating the Himachal Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) office from Shimla to Dharamshala and launching a fresh reservation roster for panchayati raj institution (PRI) members and chairpersons, a move last seen in 2010. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Check if You Are Eligible for a Free Hearing Aid Test Best Hearing Aids Undo The cabinet also allowed the Himachal Pradesh Forest Development Corporation to collect minor minerals and carry out dredging in forest rivers and ponds to improve resource use and environmental outcomes. In education, a new elementary block will be created at Baddi in Solan district by bifurcating the Ramshahar block. Administrative restructuring of Sulah, Bhawarna, and Lambagaon development blocks in Kangra, along with Bharanj in Hamirpur district, was also approved to ease governance delivery. MSID:: 121535367 413 | Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh cabinet has decided to fill 700 posts of Home Guards volunteer and agreed to regularise 203 zila parishad cadre panchayat secretaries who have completed two years on contract by March 31, 2025. Chaired by chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Saturday's cabinet meeting also removed a key hurdle for aspiring resident doctors by scrapping the one-year mandatory field posting requirement before applying for senior residency. The change brings uniformity to eligibility criteria at Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, and Dr Rajendra Prasad Govt Medical College, Tanda, aligning them with the Atal Institute of Medical Superspecialities (AIMSS), Chamiyana. In a bid to cut plastic waste, ministers approved a pilot 'Deposit Refund Scheme 2025'. Under the initiative, consumers will pay a refundable deposit when buying products with certain packaging, such as glass bottles, plastic containers, cans and multilayered materials. The deposit will be returned once the empty packaging is returned. Other decisions included relocating the Himachal Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) office from Shimla to Dharamshala and launching a fresh reservation roster for panchayati raj institution (PRI) members and chairpersons, a move last seen in 2010. The cabinet also allowed the Himachal Pradesh Forest Development Corporation to collect minor minerals and carry out dredging in forest rivers and ponds to improve resource use and environmental outcomes. In education, a new elementary block will be created at Baddi in Solan district by bifurcating the Ramshahar block. Administrative restructuring of Sulah, Bhawarna, and Lambagaon development blocks in Kangra, along with Bharanj in Hamirpur district, was also approved to ease governance delivery. MSID:: 121535367 413 |
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Business Standard
31-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Return used packs, get paid: Himachal's new policy to tackle mountain trash
The Himachal Pradesh cabinet on Saturday approved a new initiative aimed at tackling non-biodegradable waste. Under the plan, buyers will pay a refundable deposit on select products. This deposit will be returned once the used packaging is handed back, according to an official release. The initiative, called the Deposit Refund Scheme 2025, will be launched on a pilot basis. It will cover various types of packaging, including glass bottles, plastic drink containers, aluminium cans, liquid cartons, soft plastic packs, and multilayered packaging. The cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, also approved the recruitment of 700 Home Guard volunteers in the Home Guards and Civil Defence Department. "Based on QR code scanning, the vendor will charge a nominal fee, and that will be refunded once the plastic pack is disposed of at the collection centre," said Himachal Industries Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan. Meanwhile, to improve resource utilisation and support environmental protection, the cabinet authorised the Himachal Pradesh Forest Development Corporation to collect minor minerals and carry out dredging in rivers and ponds situated in forest areas. Mountain of trash According to media reports, Shimla generates nearly 2,800 tonnes of solid waste each month, while Manali — a popular tourist destination — produces more than 1,100 tonnes. This amount tends to double during peak tourist seasons. Apart from major urban centres like Shimla, many smaller towns that draw visitors with their natural charm lack effective waste management systems. As a result, rubbish often accumulates along roadsides and causes blockages in local water bodies. Earlier in 2018, the state government imposed a ban on the use of thermocol items such as cups, plates, glasses, and spoons to address environmental concerns. Other cabinet decisions In another decision, the cabinet approved regular jobs for 203 Panchayat Secretaries (Zila Parishad cadre) who will have completed two years of contract service by March 31, 2025. The cabinet also decided to shift the Himachal Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) office from Shimla to Dharamsala. A significant change was also made to the Postgraduate/Specialist Services (PG/SS) Policy. The cabinet removed the requirement of a one-year field posting before doctors can apply for senior residency at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, and Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda. This update aligns the policy with that of AIIMS in Chamiyana and aims to simplify the selection process while streamlining the Resident Doctor and PG/SS policies. Lastly, the cabinet approved the reorganisation of development blocks in parts of Kangra and Hamirpur districts — specifically Sulah, Bhawarna, Lambagaon, and Bhoranj — to enhance local administrative accessibility for residents.
NDTV
31-05-2025
- NDTV
Himachal's 'Return Your Trash' Scheme As Mountains Drown In Garbage
Plastic bags and bottles strewn everywhere, animals scavenging on dumped solid waste - the disturbing site is not from a dumpsite but from a forest in Himachal Pradesh's Kasol. Several videos showing piles of garbage in Kasol's Parvati valley, with a murder of crows flying over the dump, are now trending on X, shining a spotlight on choking rivers and littered forests in the famous vacation spots up in the mountains. The pristine Parvati Valley, which starts from the confluence of two rivers (Beas and Parvati) and leads to Malana - a village surrounded by steep cliffs and snow-capped mountains - near the famous hamlet Kasol, is now dotted with non-biodegradable waste. This is not just the story of Kasol or Parvati Valley, but the tourist-favourite valleys of Tirthan, Jibhi, Saing, Balichowki and Banjar are also drowning in trash. And, in its latest effort to change that, Himachal Pradesh, which advertises itself as a "destination for all seasons and all reasons", has approved a scheme under which consumers will pay a refundable deposit above the price of a non-biodegradable product, which will be returned when the empty item is brought back. The Deposit Refund Scheme 2025 aims to effectively manage and reduce non-biodegradable waste, an official statement said. The scheme will be implemented on a pilot basis and applicable to a wide range of packaging materials, such as glass bottles, plastic beverage containers, aluminium cans, liquid packaging, flexible plastic packaging and multilayered packages. The scheme, which will first be launched on a trial basis in key tourist destinations, is to encourage tourists and vendors to take responsibility for the waste they generate, said Himachal Industries Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan. He stressed that it is also a part of the state's broader effort to safeguard Himachal's fragile ecology. "Plastic and polythene are a major challenge in our hill regions. This refundable fee mechanism is a step toward behavioural change," Mr Chauhan said. When asked how its effectiveness will be monitored, he said it will be done via QR codes. "Based on QR code scanning, the vendor will charge a nominal fee, and that will be refunded once the plastic pack is disposed of at the collection centre," he said. As per reports, Shimla produces nearly 2,800 tons of solid waste while Manali - another tourist magnet - produces over 1,100 tons per month. During the inflow of tourist seasons, the number doubles. Except for main cities like Shimla, many of the towns - which attract flocks of tourists for their serene beauty - don't have proper waste disposal systems. And, it leads to piles of garbage alongside roads, and clogged water sources. The move, however, is not the state's first such action to save its havens of natural beauty. Recently, the state government announced that the use of 500 ml plastic bottles made Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) will be banned in all government programmes and hotels across Himachal Pradesh from June 1, 2025. The decision has been taken in view of the environmental damage caused by plastic waste, said Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena. Any violation of these provisions may invite fines ranging from Rs. 500 to Rs. 25,000 under the relevant laws and regulations, he said. The Government of Himachal Pradesh enacted Himachal Pradesh Non- Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, in the year 1995. In 2009, it became the first state in India to ban plastic and polythene carry bags. And, since then, the state government has been making continuous efforts to reduce the plastic waste in the towns and rural areas of the state. In 2018, the state announced the ban on the use of thermocol cutlery, including cups, plates, glasses and spoons.
The Print
31-05-2025
- Business
- The Print
Return empty packages for deposit refund: HP Cabinet okays scheme to reduce non-bio waste
It also approved regularisation of services of 203 Panchayat Secretaries (Zila Parishad cadre) who have completed two years of contractual service as of March 31, 2025. Chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Cabinet also decided to fill 700 posts of home guard volunteers in the Home Guards and Civil Defence Department. Shimla, May 31 (PTI) The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet on Saturday approved a scheme under which consumers will pay a refundable deposit above the price of a non-biodegradable product, which will be returned when the empty item is brought back, an official statement said. The 'Deposit Refund Scheme 2025' aims to manage and reduce non-biodegradable waste. It will be implemented on a pilot basis and will apply to a range of packaging materials including glass bottles, plastic beverage containers, aluminium cans, liquid packaging, flexible plastic packaging, and multilayered packages, it said. Further it cleared the shifting of the Himachal Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) office from Shimla to Dharamsala. An amendment to the Postgraduate/Specialist Services (PG/SS) Policy was approved, withdrawing the mandatory one-year field posting prior to eligibility for Senior Residency at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, and Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda. This aligns with the policy at AIIMS, Chamiyana, and its objective is to streamline selection processes and harmonise the Resident Doctor and PG/SS policies. The Cabinet also authorised the Himachal Pradesh Forest Development Corporation to collect minor minerals and conduct dredging operations in rivers and ponds in forest areas for better resource management and environmental sustainability. Additionally, it decided to reorganise the development blocks of Sulah, Bhawarna, and Lambagaon in Kangra district, and Bhoranj in Hamirpur district, to facilitate the people in these areas. PTI BPL OZ OZ This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
