``We've been working on such a ban for some time now, and we've also been encouraged by the public response to this issue,'' Environment Secretary Satish Tripathi told Express Newsline. He said that the draft was the result of the onslaught of plastic carry bags on the city, particularly the choking of drains in the monsoons.

``If the notification comes into force, hopefully by next month, thin carry bags will be put out of circulation,'' Tripathi said. He cited recent instances of Ganesh pandals banning plastic carry bags as indicators of popular sentiment against such bags.

Citing Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986, the draft recommends a ban on the manufacture of plastic bags below 20 microns in thickness and a recycled plastic bagsbelow 25 microns.

The use of toxic dyes in food grade plastic bags are to be banned and virgin plastic bags will have to be used. Several restrictions have also been placed on the manufacturing units which have to obtain regular certification of their processes from the state government. The plastic used in the manufacture will also have to be stamped and graded.

Defaulters will be dealt with under Section 15 of the EP Act, which makes the offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and a fine which may extend to Rs one lakh.

However, it may take another month for the Government Resolution (GR) on this issue to be passed. Tripathi emphasised that the draft was a case of the `last thing being done first.' The environment department will forward copies of the notification to the Urban Development, industries and the legal department for modifications, if any. The draft will then be put up before the cabinet committee, before a GR is finally issued.

Early last month atwo-member committee appointed by state Environment Minister Chandrakant Khaire put up a list of suggestions on the guidelines for the ban.

The five-page report prepared by K H Mehta, member secretary of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and M R Shah, Chief Engineer of the BMC's Solid Waste Management Cell, were on the lines of a proposed Central government notification on the ban of plastic carry bags.