New Delhi, Dec 21 (KNN) Tamil Nadu government's sudden announcement about the plastic ban with hit almost 50,000 plastic Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state, said C Babu, Immediate Past President of Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association (TANSTIA).

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has asked all industries in the state to declare their industry premises as “plastic free zones” and asked them to paste stickers prominently stating their industry is a plastic free zone.

This will come into effect from January 1.

Babu, while talking to KNN India, said, “There is a big problem for entrepreneurs. Approximately 1lakh workers are depending on the plastic industry.”

“Direct and Indirect people associated with the industry are also affected,” he added.

“It is the very big issue for manufacturers of plastic industry,” Babu said.

He added, “We are waiting for any alternate solution by the government for the ban items.”

He raised the issue of banks still giving loans to plastic manufacturers and said, “One month before the Government order was released; all the banks were giving loans for the product manufacturing and machinery loans. Why were the banks giving the loans?”

He added that suddenly within six months they banned plastic, how will plastic manufacturers return the payments, dues, machinery loans and their working capital.

If there will be no production then how will the entrepreneurs return the dues, he said.

He mentioned that Government should announce to the bank to not provide loans for the plastic items.

He said that Government should see the problem and give some remedy for the issue.

Even we are with the government, but this big step should be step down slowly, Babu added.

We have written letters to the government mentioning all the suggestions.

Babu said, “It is a very crucial time for Tamil Nadu’s plastic manufacturers.”