The Pioneer 13.05.2013
Strict vigil on plastic use in Doon
The ban on polythene bags and disposable plastic utensils imposed in Dehradun city a couple of months ago has had considerable effect but there are still many shopkeepers and citizens who have continued to used the banned commodities. The authorities stress that enforcement of the ban will be improved.
It will be recalled that polythene bags and disposable plastic utensils were completely banned in Dehradun city from March 15. Though the authorities have been raiding vendors and penalising those caught violating the ban, there are still many shopkeepers and citizens who have continued to violate this ban.
Petty vendors have continued to use the polythene bags on the grounds that the customers demand these. On being asked the reason for using the banned items, a vendor said that the polythene bags are much cheaper costing 30 paise each and on the other hand cloth bags cost Rs 3 each. According to fruit vendor Manoj, the customers do not cooperate and refuse to spend even few rupees on the cloth bags, preferring in stead the banned item.
Another vendor, Ravi suggested that the supply of the polythene bags should be stopped right at the source. “If we sell only cloth bags- which are not preferred by most of the customers, we will find it tough to sell our stock and face losses, he said.
Regarding the ban the Dehradun district magistrate BVRC Purushottam said that it was the duty of the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun to work on the implementation of the ban in the city. Steps have been taken by the district administration to facilitate effective implementation of the ban with penalty of `500 on customers and `5,000 on the shopkeeper found using polythene bags. New teams have been formed to check and act against shopkeepers selling polythene bags.
It now remains to be seen whether the public in the State capital become aware enough to desist from violating the ban on polythene bags or continues to use the banned items.
