The government has decided to ask manufactures of the environmentally hazardous material to collect them after use, Union Minister of State for Forest and Environment Suresh Prabhu said today.

Talking to mediapersons here, he said it was not possible to impose a total ban on polythene bags as they were now part of daily life. But steps are being taken to regulate its use, he added.

He said the Centre was also considering punishment for those violating the provisions.

Prabhu said the manufacturers would also be asked to increase the thickness of the bags so that they could be recycled and reused. Recycling of thin polythene bags is expensive.

Prabhu said his ministry had set up a separate cell to deal with the problem of solid waste.

Pointing out that most of the hospitals in the country were not using incinerators for disposal of wastes, he said the Central Pollution Control Board had been asked to lookinto the matter.

Replying to a question on the Ganga Action Plan, he said nearly Rs 600 crore had been spent on the plan formulated in 1984. But there was ``no satisfactory improvement'', he said, adding the second phase of the plan was being implemented by giving more emphasis to the proper utilisation of funds.

Prabhu said the Centre had also decided to provide funds for the Ganga Action Plan to the concerned states which in turn would be responsible for the management and implementation of the plan. The work of the National River Action Plan was also unsatisfactory, he added.

He said the government was gathering information on the extent of diversion of forest land for mines and agriculture purposes. ``We are of the view that a green guard should be posted in every village in the country,'' he said.