Responding to the District administration blaming the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun for its unsupportive attitude in enforcing the ban on polythene bags in the State capital, the Mukhya Nagar Adhikari (MNA) Ashok Kumar said that MCD has always provided all possible support for enforcing this ban.
Inspite of the insufficient numbers of employees at the corporation, MCD has always provided the required support to the district administration to make this ban successful, averred Kumar. He informed that the basic tasks related to enforcing the ban are done by the MCD officials. The officials also keep conducting the inspection drive from time to time, nhe added. As per the data of the MCD from the date of enforcement of the ban as many as 2,000 challans have been handed out by the MCD officials without any support fromany other department, maintained Kumar.When asked about any expectations from the district administration, the MNA said that MCD doesn’t need any kind of support while adding that the corporation has always provided its support to the District administration.
He stated that MCD has also provided two of its supervisors to the district administration whenever needed. He said that MCD is suffering staff shortage these days as it has got just two Additional MNAs and both are successfully handling the responsibility of enforcing the polythene ban in the town. Recently, the District Magistrate, BVRC Purushottam had stated that enforcing the ban on polythene was not the sole responsibility of the district administration. Blaming the MCD officials for their irresponsible attitude, Purushottam had said that they don’t seem to be concerned about their duty.
He also maintained that he is not getting any support from the Municipal Corporation and is unable to implement complete ban on the polythene use. However, contrary to the MNA’s claims, BJP councillor Bhupendra Kathait said that MCD has failed to enforce the polythene ban effectively. He alleged that mostly the checking drives are limited to few wards only but the main culprits like the suppliers and retailers of the polythene bags are never penalised as they bribe the senior officials. He also opined that the district magistrate, who has got the required authority and can very effectively enforce the ban is not that interested in it.