After the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to implement polythene ban in the city, the Chandigarh administration is all set to crack the whip on the violators.
In a recent order, the NGT approved a fine of Rs 5000 to be charged from the violators in Chandigarh where a complete ban on the use of polythene was put in place in 2008 but was violated with impunity.
Chandigarh Home Secretary Anurag Aggarwal on Thursday said Chandigarh Administration had not been able to implement the polythene ban effectively because the provisions of penalising the violators were not available. But now with the force of penalty, the administration will be able to phase out the use of polythene of restricted specifications completely.
Aggarwal said that Administration will start a massive drive against the use of polythene shortly. Teams of Enforcement department of Municipal Corporation and Chandigarh Administration, Food and Supply department and Health department etc will be deputed to check the use of polythene in different areas of the city.
Taking cues from the words of Home Secretary, SDM (East) Tapasya Raghav, issued orders restricting any kind of polythene under Section 144 Cr PC. The orders read, “No person including the shopkeeper, vendor, wholesaler or retailer, trader, hawker or rehriwala etc. shall use polythene/plastic carry bags for supply goods in polythene/plastic carry bags and further directs that no person shall manufacture, store, sell, import, or transport polythene/plastic carry bags in the area falling in the East Sub-Division, UT, Chandigarh.” The orders have come into force from December 10.
SHO’s of concerned Police Stations, officials concerned from Market Committee and Sanitary Inspectors will ensure enforcement of the ban and will submit weekly report in the matter.
Chandigarh administration had banned the use of polythene bags in the City Beautiful around seven years ago in October, 2008. Though administration could check the usage of polythene to a certain extent but it could never implement it properly. It is estimated that around 1000 kg banned polythene reaches the garbage processing plant at Dadu Majra everyday.