Chhattisgarh is preparing to put statutory search, seizure, waste-removal and offence-compounding powers in the hands of forest personnel posted at circle and beat level, bringing enforcement against prohibited plastic products closer to the state’s tiger reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. A 23-page official dossier accessed by The Hitavada reveals that the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife Management and Biodiversity Conservation) and Chief Wildlife Warden has instructed field authorities to formally authorise these personnel under the Chhattisgarh Plastic and Other Non-Biodegradable Material (Regulation of Use and Disposal) Rules, 2023. The communication is accompanied by statutory provisions and specimen authorisation orders for Barnawapara Sanctuary and Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve.

 

The significance lies in the legal reach of the proposed delegation. Rather than relying solely on instructions from wildlife headquarters, the department intends to equip officers serving within protected habitats to act against violations in their assigned jurisdictions. The order, issued under Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap’s guidance, follows the department’s acknowledgement that earlier directions had not secured effective control over plastic use in protected areas. Rule 8 of the 2023 Rules empowers Range Forest Officers, or other officers authorised by the Deputy Conservator of Forests, to exercise powers under Sections 8, 9 and 13 of the Chhattisgarh Plastic and Other Non-Biodegradable Material (Regulation of Use and Disposal) Act, 2020. Divisional Forest Officers and Deputy Conservators have now been directed to authorise Circle Forest Officers and Beat Forest Officers accordingly.

 

The provisions carry practical consequences. Section 8 permits removal of unauthorisedly deposited material after written notice, with expenses recoverable from the responsible person. Section 9 enables entry at reasonable times, examination of records, searches and seizure of evidence. Persons handling non-biodegradable material must assist authorised officers; failure without reasonable cause can attract punishment. Section 13 permits compounding of specified offences. For first offences, the prescribed compounding amounts are Rs 500 for individuals and street vendors, Rs 25,000 for shops and establishments, and Rs 1 lakh for manufacturers. A second offence attracts Rs 1,000, Rs 50,000 and Rs 2 lakh respectively. Every subsequent offence is non-compoundable.

 

Where an offence is lawfully compounded, the Act provides for release from custody, where applicable, and bars further criminal proceedings for that offence. The restrictions cover plastic carry bags, disposable plastic and thermocol tableware, specified food packaging, plastic decorations, short-life PVC advertising materials, non-recyclable multilayer packaging and PET drinking-water bottles below 200 ml. The rules also preserve defined exemptions, including medical packaging, certified compostable bags and qualifying products subject to recycling, buy-back or extended producer responsibility conditions.

 

The directive reaches the managements of UdantiSitanadi, Achanakmar, Indravati and Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla tiger reserves, Kanger Ghati National Park, and protected jurisdictions including Barnawapara, Bhoramdev and Gomarda sanctuaries. Project Elephant, Surguja, and concerned forest divisions are also among its recipients. Senior police officials privy to the enforcement-based initiative, who confided exclusively to

 

The Hitavada on condition of anonymity, said the enclosed specimen orders outlined the mechanism for delegating authority to frontline personnel. However, the documents do not establish whether authorisations have been completed throughout the state. They also contain no protected-area-wise figures for seizures, prosecutions or compounding collections. The officials maintained that the initiative was intended to strengthen field-level enforcement of existing legislation by enabling authorised personnel to act within their respective jurisdictions. Its effectiveness, they indicated, would depend on implementation of the Chief Wildlife Warden’s directions across the protected-area network.