The ban on plastic having thickness less than 50 microns will come into force in Uttar Pradesh from today with a fine up to Rs1 lakh and six months in jail for violators, according to a state government order.

Since the Uttar Pradesh government warned strict action against officials who fail to implement the plastic ban in the state capital, police here launched a helpline on Thursday, asking people to inform them about any violation.

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“People should come forward and call anti-crime helpline 7839861314 to report the manufacturing or supply of plastic in the city,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kalanidhi Naithani had said, adding that the identity of informers would not be disclosed.

The initiative came after the state government on August 26 said strict action would be taken against officials if the banned plastic was sold in any part of Lucknow from next month.

Post August 31, strict action would be taken against any police station in-charge, civic official, commercial tax officer, magistrate and circle officers, if the sale of the banned plastic was noticed in their areas, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said. Awasthi said the officials had also been asked to inform traders and the people about the ban.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech this year and subsequently in his monthly radio address ”Mann ki Baat,” appealed to people against using plastic to protect the environment.

PM Modi said, “In a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, we will carry our cleanliness drives from homes to schools to colleges. This time we have to focus specifically on plastics. In the Independence Day speech I had specifically said that we must show the same commitment as the crores of Indians who were a part of swachchata abhiyan and making India open defecation free, we have to eliminate single use plastic.”

In his monthly radio broadcast Mann ki Baat, Modi said, “When we celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th anniversary, we’ll not only be dedicating to him an open defecation free India but also kick-starting a mass movement for making India plastic free. I appeal to all to celebrate this year’s Gandhi Jayanti by freeing Mother India of plastic.”

PM stressed about the need for abolishing single use plastic for environment conservation. “We will start a new campaign against plastic usage on Gandhi Jayanti, let’s make Gandhi Jayanti as a special day when we give up on plastic and promote cleanliness,” he said.