The impact of enforcement of the ban on polythene bags by the district administration is visible in the state capital. But the use and sale of plastic disposable utensils is still prevalent in the city.
Visiting some shops on Tuesday, this correspondent observed that most of the shopkeepers have stopped giving products in the banned polythene bags. Shopkeepers were seen advising their customers to purchase jute shopping bags instead. According to them, they do not purchase polythene bags as the government has banned these.
A shopkeeper at Sahastradhara Road intersection said, “I do not purchase polythene bags in fear of being penalised by the district officials”. The price of polythene bags in the market has increased in the last few days due to shortage of supply of these items from other cities.
A vegetable vendor said that polythene bags were easily available in the market 10 days ago. As of now, it has become very difficult to find these bags in the market.
A buyer said that shopkeepers do not give sold items in polythene bags. They provide items to the customers in paper bags and those who dislike paper bags are advised to purchase jute bags.
Patelnagar resident Anuradha, asked the vegetable vendor for a polythene bag for carrying items but this was refused by the vendor who told her to either use paper bags or purchase jute bags costing Rs 10 each from his shop.
It was observed that the use and sale of plastic disposable utensils is still prevalent in the city. Many eateries and roadside stalls still use these banned items.
Dehradun City Magistrate Harak Singh Rawat said that teams headed by Dehradun Tehsildar, additional Tehsildar and Rawat along with police personnel have been deployed to conduct drives to check use of polythene bags and plastic disposable utensils in the city. According to him, around 90 per cent shops do not provide polythene bags to their customers. According to Rawat, the drive to check the use of polythene bags will continue in the city. large number of businessmen including vegetable and fruit vendors have been penalised for using polythene bags for commercial purpose in the last few months.
When question was asked about there has been rampant use or sale of plastic disposable utensils in the city, he said that recently a delegation of businessmen met him and requested him to allow selling disposable plastics cups and dishes in the city. he said that the district administration will strictly enforce the ban on polythene bags and disposable cups and dishes in the city.