It has been one year since a total prohibition on the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags which are less than 50 microns was imposed, but the implementation has often been sloppy and plastic which takes hundreds of years to decompose continues to be used in large quantities in the city. According to a reliable survey the daily usage of plastic in the city is more than 5 quintals.
It is not far from the truth to say that the District Administration and the Civic Body have failed to take appropriate steps to ensure that the ban on this hazardous substance is properly implemented and fulfill their statutory obligations to the general public.
While some of the big showrooms and departmental shops have adapted and turned to paper or cloth bags most of the small and medium sized shops continue to use plastic bags. Also there are additional abundant uses of other plastic items, such as cups, plates, spoons and glasses. There is also confusion among the small shopkeepers about the permissible grade of polythene.
A special team of the Gwalior Municipal Corporation during a surprise check today confiscated about 3 quintals of plastic from small and medium sized shops, and a few vegetable markets. The authorities said that frequent checks will be conducted and the use and storage of plastic bags will be totally stopped.
Plastic has been degrading the environment of the city causing serious blockages in the various sewers, especially in the Jhinsy Nala, Hujrat Road, Naughaja Road and many other places. The sewer lines in most of these areas have been getting chocked due to the indiscriminate dumping of plastic which also blocks free flow of water, especially during the monsoon season, resulting in the flooding of roads and nearby areas.
Even the cows that roam on the roads are subjected to various diseases and even death as a result of the plastic getting mixed with the damp waste they consume. Most of the cows that are brought to the Goshala situated at Morar are afflicted with plastic related diseases and according to the caretaker at the cow shelter 8 to 10 cows die every day because of this. It is high time the authorities took a serious view of this and enforce total ban on the usage and storing of plastic by shops and vendors.