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Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, June 18
Following the directions of the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Punjab, three joint teams of the Municipal Corporation and the Punjab Pollution Control Board seized 10 quintals of banned plastic carry bags in the city today.
The state government had completely prohibited manufacturing, stocking, distribution, recycling, sale and use of plastic carry bags within the jurisdiction of all municipal corporations, councils, nagar panchayats and gram panchayats in 2016.
The Health Officer of MC, Dr Vipul Malhotra, who was leading one of the teams, said the raids were conducted at Dana Mandi, Kesarganj Mandi and Field Ganj. The other two teams were led by Nodal Officer Ashwani Sahota and Dr Jasvir Kaur. Sahota said they issued challans to the violators. The officials said the drive would continue in the coming days.
Director of Environment and Climate Change KS Pannu had earlier written to the Department of Local Government, Department of Rural Development and Panchayats and the Punjab Pollution Control Board to launch a
Crackdown on plastic bags special drive to ensure strict compliance of the ban orders.
Meanwhile, president of Plastic Manufacturers and Traders Association of Punjab Gurdeep Singh Batra said the Central Government had allowed above 50 micron plastic carry bags if the state could ensure proper waste management, he added.
“The state government should allow the use of above 50 micron plastic carry bags here. It is the responsibility of the state government to set up waste-collection centres and ensure proper waste management. We are ready to chip in for setting up the waste management system in the state. If our demand is ignored, we will continue our fight against the state government in a peaceful manner,” he said.
The heaps of used carry bags at garbage dumps across the city are a common sight as the MC has failed to improve its solid waste management system.
A street vendor said: “The alternative carry bags are costly. If the government has banned plastic carry bags, it should also ensure easy provision of alternative carry bags at nominal rates so that our business does not suffer.”