new delhi come january 1 and indian ships will prohibit on board a large number of singleuse plastic products including ice cream containers hot dish cups microwave dishes and potato chips bagsthe decision has been taken in larger public interest by the directorate general of shipping following an appeal by prime minister narendra modi on august 15 to take the first big step towards freeing india of singleuse plasticsnot only a large number of singleuse plastics will be prohibited to be used on board indian ships but will also be banned in foreign ships when in indian watersthe directorate general of shipping has come out with an order prohibiting a large number of singleuse plastics in indian ships and foreign ships in indian waters from january 2 2020the list of items contain bags trays containers food packaging film milk bottles freezer bags shampoo bottles ice cream containers bottles for water and other drinks dispensing containers for cleaning fluid and biscuits traysitems prohibited also include hot drink cups insulated food packaging protective packaging for fragile items microwave dishes ice cream tubs potato chips bags and bottle capsbesides the directorate has banned use of singleuse plastic cutlery plates and cups up to 10 litres of bottles for water and other drinks garbage and shopping bags and dispensing containers for cleaning fluids which are less than 10 litres volume with immediate impactit has directed authorities to ensure during surveys inspection and audit of indian ships that singleuse plastics are not found usedstored on board any indian ship and added that in case of non compliance and repeated offence it will be a case for detentionit also said that foreign ships intending to enter indian waters will have to declare single use plastic items onboard and no such items will be discharged at indian portsquoting international reports it said most common finds during international coastal cleanups are in order of magnitude cigarette butts plastic beverage bottles plastic bottle caps food wrappers plastic grocery bags plastic lids straw and stirrer glass beverage bottles and and other kind of plastic bagsit said singleuse throwaway plastics contaminate soil river and waterbodies with irreparable damageaccording to international maritime organisation imo marine litter presents a huge problem in oceans with some scientists warning that by 2050 the quantity of plastics in the oceans will outweigh the fishes