After the nationwide ban on single-use plastic, the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department, in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is motivating community groups to prepare leaf plates and bowls using machines instead of doing it manually in order to meet the increasing demand for leaf plates.
- The ban of single use plastic items has been in place since July 1.
- Under a project titled ‘Improvement of Himachal Pradesh Forest Ecosystems Management and Livelihoods’, the department is planting specific species such as ‘Bauhinia vahlii’ in the forest adjoining the villages of trained community groups.
- In Himachal Pradesh the leaves of Tor (Bauhinia vahlii) are used for making leaf plate and bowl.
- These plants are found in tropical climate, found in relatively lower areas of the State including Mandi, Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Kangra districts.
