Authorities not enforcing plastic ban: F’bad MLA

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, August 31

The ban imposed on the usage of polythene and plastic bags in 2010 still seems to be on paper only. In all, 584 challans have reportedly been issued in the regard in the past five years, while no challan has been issued in the past two years in the district.

The issue was highlighted in the recent session of the state Assembly when Nagender Bhadana, MLA from the NIT Assembly seat here sought an answer regarding the measures taken to ban the use of plastic and polythene bags.

He alleged the authorities concerned had failed to implement the ban imposed more than five years ago. It is revealed that only 584 challans have been issued since the implementation of the ban. All challans were issued by the inspector-level officials of the Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) and no challan was issued in 2014- 15 and 2015- 2016.

“Polythene and plastic waste constitute 70 to 80 per cent of the garbage in the dustbins or which gets accumulated at the disposal points of the drains in the city,” claimed an employee of the MCF.

According to the notification issued by the state government on February 3, 2010, senior officials, including the District Magistrate, Additional District Magistrate, District Development and Panchayat Officer, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, City Magistrate, have been authorised to issue challans and were the prescribed authority for the enforcement of the provisions in their respective jurisdiction.

However, not a single challan had reportedly been issued by any of the officials since the imposition of the ban.