Things have not changed much on the ground since the administration started to execute the ban imposed by the Uttarakhand High Court on the use of plastic/polyphone and thermocol items in the city. Surprisingly enough, a large section of the people even do not know that such a ban is in force at the behest of the court. Sona Bartwal, a resident of Miyanwala, said, “Use of polythene can hardly be eliminated overnight by the administration by citing a court order. It has been in use for such a long time that it would take time to have it eliminated and for that a vigorous awareness campaign through the available channels must be started and carried on. Unfortunately enough, no such thing is happening now,” he said.
An engineering student Kaustubh Negi said that it is wrong to blame the use of polythene and thermocol items exclusively for the deteriorating environment. “There are other things which are equally contributing to the damage to environment. What is needed is to put into place a right mechanism to dispose them of through recycling. This is what is happening in the developed countries. They are investing a lot in such projects,” he said.
That a large number of the denizens of the city remain unaware of the ban is indeed surprising, given the fuss raised over several traders being slapped with penalties ranging from Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 for using the banned items despite the ban. Paras Butola, another local, sounded surprised when told about the ban. “Really I did not know as the shopkeepers are still wrapping up the items we buy in the plastic and polyphone bags as usual. The people must be made aware of the ban and at the same time the drives must continue relentlessly. Both the sellers and the buyers to be found on the wrong side of things should be made to suffer the consequences of defying the ban. But it would be justified only after a vigorous awareness campaign is launched,” he said.
Shashank a local resident, sounded sceptical over sudden ban imposed on the use of polythene items without presenting any substitute and planning. “Such a cavalier move is bound to turn into a fiasco. A proper plan is needed and the habit of the people does not change overnight,” he said.
Umakant Sharma, a shopkeeper based in Dallanwala said, “I have stopped using polythene for packaging purposes. Instead I am using fiber bags. However, my profit margin has come down as it costs Rs1.50 per bag and for many of the products I sell, I just earn Rs 1.50 as profit per product. I have thus landed in a tight spot while implementing the ban.” He further said that there are still many who insist on being given the sold items in polythene bags. “Hence, the customers must be told to desist from demanding things being packed in the bags made of the banned items. Just by issuing hefty fine on us would not yield the desired result,” he added.