A day before the complete ban on polythene and disposables is set to be strictly enforced across the State from August 1, the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat requested the people of the State not to use polythene. However, those working in the field State that though the ban is welcome, it is unlikely to be effective considering the lack of preparations by the State Government in this regard.
It is pertinent to mention here that polythene was first banned in Uttarakhand during the 2012-14 tenure of the then Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna. However, due to confusion on some aspects and other factors, the ban could not be enforced effectively. later, the high court of Uttarakhand banned polythene in the State and issued various directions for making the ban effective.
Though the State Government has been officially observing this ban, lack of effective enforcement and other measures have resulted in the ban being little more than a formality. Recently, the Chief Minister had stated that the State will stringently enforce the ban from August 1. On Tuesday, Rawat said that polythene use pollutes the environment and also causes immense harm to agriculture, animals and birds. While making an appeal to the people of the State to keep the State clean and not to use polythene, he reiterated that the State Government will strictly enforce the ban from Wednesday.
By stopping the use of polythene, the people should extend their support to the cleanliness campaign encouraged as a mass movement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added.
However, those working in the field are not convinced about the effectiveness of the ban. Anoop Nautiyal of the think-tank Gati Foundation which has been working also on the issue of plastic pollution, said that the ban on polythene is very much welcome. However, the preparations necessary for making such a move effective do not appear to have been taken.
He said, “Take the example of Maharashtra where polythene was banned recently. The authorities need to undertake various preparations to make the ban effective. The government needs to inform all stakeholders and hold deliberations with them. The authorities also need to facilitate the use of viable alternative in order to encourage the people to observe the ban on polythene. Such measures have been missing here,” he said.
Observers too point out that even while the State Government talks of enforcing the ban on polythene and disposable utensils made of polystyrene, the use of these items has not yet stopped in official functions of the Government itself. Bouquets wrapped in plastic, snacks and drinks served in disposables are still a common feature in various governmental and political functions. It now remains to be seen whether the authorities will seriously work on various aspects needed to effectively enforce the ban on polythene and disposables in the State.