Urban News

Hindustan Times 08.01.2010

The Mayor’s proposal for a 100 per cent ban on plastic carry bags will be tabled before the general body meeting on Friday.

Shiv Sena’s leader of the house, Sunil Prabhu has chalked out a proposal in the form of a notice of motion, demanding a blanket ban on plastic carry bags along with a ban on thermacol and metallic plastic, which is used for pouches containing dry food like potato chips.

Following the meeting held last week by Mayor Shraddha Jadhav suggesting a 100 per cent ban, the proposal will be discussed in the general body meeting and once approved by a majority will be sent to the state to make necessary amendments in the existing law, the Maharashtra Plastic Carry Bags (Manufacture and Usage) Rules 2006.

Currently, sale and use of plastic carry bags thinner than 50 microns is banned in the state. The state government had imposed the ban in 2006 after a report said that plastic bags clogged drains.

However, civic body has not been successful in implementing the ban as monitoring the use of plastic bags is difficult.

Sunil Prabhu, Sena leader in the BMC said, “We want a 100 per cent ban on plastic carry bags along with packaging, thermocol and metallic plastic as they are hazardous to the environment and they cant be recycled.”

However the Sena -BJP ruling party is divided over the issue. A total ban on plastic carry bags will affect plastic bag manufacturers and the labour depending on that industry. A section of Sena and BJP leaders are strongly opposing a complete ban on plastic bags.

In the notice of motion, Prabhu suggested that the state government should amend the existing law to accommodate a complete ban. The state government has supported the idea but it wants to proceed with it slowly.

Environment Secretary Valsa Nair said that banning metallic plastic and thermocol would not be easy, as it will hit the concerned industry severely. She added that a blanket ban on plastic carry bags could be implemented.

Hindustan Times on December 27 reported that Mayor Jadhav has initiated a move to ban plastic carry bags in the city.

She also wrote a letter to the municipal commissioner saying that the administration should initiate awareness campaign about using cloth bags as plastic bags clog the drains and are also an environment hazard.