Is there a need of 100 per cent ban on Plastic Bags in State?
There is again a buzz in the city on ban of Plastic Bags but this time civic group leaders are in favor of total ban.
Excerpts from Hindustan Times shows:
“Previous bans on plastic bags in the state:
A ban on plastic bags with thickness below 20 microns was first introduced in 2000 but wasnt implemented.
Plastic bags with less than 50 microns in thickness were banned after the 2005 deluge as plastic bags were one of the reasons for choking of drains, causing floods.
But BMC failed to implement the earlier ban on carry bags made from plastic that is thinner than 50 microns.
Statistics with BMC reveal that plastic accounts for 4 per cent of the 8,000 metric tones of garbage Mumbai generates every day.
Proposed ban
The sum of Rs 5,000 is a proposed increase in penalty; currently it is only Rs 1,000. The amount is increased to Rs 25,000 if the offense is repeated. It could also lead to a prison term of up to a month.
How the existing ban will be enforced:
The civic corporation will involve local citizens to enforce the existing ban. It will focus on one area at a time to sensitize people against the use of plastic carry bags and will advocate the use of cloth bags…. “
So as we can see, a lot has been done and spoken about ban on plastic bags. But is imposing a 100 per cent ban on plastic bags the only solution left? Does plastics in themselves causes problems to the environment or ultimate responsibility and onus lies with all of us?
We at Karmayog are interested to know how we all can evolve a responsible Plastic Bag Policy. Please share your inputs. Join us on Karmayog Yahoo and Facebook Groups.
Thanks & Regards,
Pratibha
Karmayog