Say no to polythene, switch to eco-friendly bags

Blatant disregard for govt guidelines

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 24

Sale and use of polythene bags is going unchecked in the city, not caring two hoots for government guidelines.

While Birendra Choudhary, IFS, Member Secretary of the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee, was arrested by the CBI on the charges of corruption, his subordinate staff stated that they have not received any latest data of how many people have been challaned for storing and using plastic bags.

“SDMs are authorised to challan people who stock and use plastic bags. We have to collect the challan amount and also compile a record of the number of challans. So far, we have the data from January till March. We have not been provided the latest record,” said the Pollution Control Committee member.

Polythene bags are being used unabatedly in the markets of Sectors 22 and 26. Besides, vendors at the Sector 35 vegetables market are also using polythene bags.

So far, only one company in the country is manufacturing biodegradable polythene bags and selling A-4 size for Rs 2.5 per piece. Vendors complain that biodegradable plastic bags are expensive. Besides, they lack strength and could not be used multiple times.

Surinder, one of the vegetable vendors, said last year the pollution control board authorities had handed over biodegradable bags to them. The bags lacked strength and one could not carry vegetables in these.

“The company should improve the quality of biodegradable polythene bags,” said Surinder.

A group of cloth traders said if the department was really serious about encouraging the use of biodegradable polythene bags, then the government should provide subsidy on it.