The Delhi government has set a deadline of December 22 to stop manufacture, sale and storage of plastic bags in the national capital. Top officials in the Environment department said traders involved in production and sale of plastic bags have been ordered to dismantle their manufacturing facilities. The order has been issued as per a government decision to impose blanket ban in this regard.Following a Delhi High Court order, the government had in January 2009 imposed a ban on the use of plastic bags in various markets, shopping malls, hotels and hospitals but it has not produced the desired result.The government has now imposed the ban as per provision of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, under which violators could face imprisonment up to five years and fine of up to one lakh rupees or both.