The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) will be issuing challans for the use of prohibited polythene bags from October 2 onward. Municipal commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey said that MCD is planning to distribute at least one cloth bag in each household under the MCD area from September 25. However, amidst this campaign, several citizens have now started to raise demand stating that MCD should also provide or at least suggest alternatives for the plastic and polystyrene disposables which are also prohibited.
Municipal commissioner Pandey said, “We will be distributing cloth bags from September 25. We are planning to distribute around 2.5 lakh such bags, at least one for each household. After October 2, challans will be issued to those found violating the prohibition.”
He further clarified, “The idea is not to harass citizens, which is why, we are first providing them with alternative and asking them to donate polythene bags to us. The entire campaign was designed to sensitise common people about the harmful effects of polythene use and then ask them to stop using the polythene.”
However, a citizen present at MCD stated that just like cloth bags are alternative of polythene bags and Kullad can be used as alternative of disposable plastic glasses. The MCD should also sensitise people about alternatives for other banned items.
He said, “Even though we know that plastic and polythene can cause a number of side effects and even cancer, what we cannot see directly is something we are less concerned about. It is great to raise public awareness but unless there are some reliable alternatives to fall back upon this ban on polythene will not be effective for long.”