As the authorities and public groups prepare to celebrate the World Environment Day on Tuesday, the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun has urged citizens to desist from using the prohibited polythene and disposables made from polystyrene. As the drive by MCD to enforce the ban on these items continues with limited results, officials stress that the citizens should also comprehend their onus and do their bit to observe the law in the interests of the environment and society.
Speaking about the polythene ban enforcement drive, the Dehradun municipal commissioner Vijay Kumar Jogdande said that the drive had been continuing with the aim of preventing the use of prohibited polythene. He said, “We have assigned sanitation inspectors to keep a regular check in different wards of the city. We have also collected an amount of Rs 6l in penalties during May with about 250 persons including shopkeepers, customers and managers of eateries being penalised for the use of the prohibited items. Our team will keep a regular check on the use of polythene and we will try to work more effectively."
He added, “We also set up a van last month to work on raising public awareness about the plastic waste and electronic waste. It will also collect e-waste and plastic waste from the city. The dustbin portion of the van is divided into two parts one is painted red in colour to collect plastic waste and the other is painted blue to collect e-waste. The routes have been marked for the van. Our basic aim for one month will be spreading awareness through it. Our team has also marked seven locations in the city to install such type of coloured dustbins initially."
Regarding the treatment of waste, Jogdande informed that the MCD had entered into a collaboration with a Noida bsed firm for treatment of plastic waste. "We will collect the plastic waste from the city which will be given to the firm for necessary treatment to enable its recycling and reuse. Also, we have asked local voluntary organisations to regularly work for awareness programmes in the city,” he said.
Referring to this year's World Environment Day theme of beating plastic waste, the municipal commissioner requested the citizens to stop using polythene and use cloth bags for shopping instead.