While Gajapati district is witnessing unhealthy conditions due to massive use of polythene, the district administration’s lackadaisical apathetic attitude in imposing ban on polythene use has upset conscious citizens.
Polythene use has been part of life. People use it for carrying everything from vegetables, grocery to cooked food materials. They don’t hesitate to dump the same at any place they wish. The trend has not only polluted the atmosphere but also cause deaths for pet animals, lamented a local school teacher.
While the Union and State Governments have made laws to curb the polythene use, the district administration’s apathetic attitude has been a matter of worry for use, the teacher added.
Trinamool Congress candidate for the Paralakhemundi Assembly seat Sujit Pradhan blamed the district administration for not creating awareness among the people about the bad impact of polythene use.
“Most of the areas in Gajapati district are tribal-dominated and the literacy rate here is also comparatively low in comparison to other districts. The district administration should create massive awareness to curb the menace,” Pradhan said.
Apart from polythene containers, use of various plastic pouches, bottles and glasses are also adding to the woes.
Polythene bags containing food materials and water pounces are seen in plenty at the hotels and liquor shops in the town areas. Pet animials like cow, bullock, goats and dogs are seen suffering from stomach related diseases by eating those polythene containing food materials.
“Death of pets has very bad repercussions on their owners as they are major source of earning livelihood in the district. Fed up with pet deaths, owners in many cases choose to go outside to earn livelihoods,” said a college student.