The Raipur Municipal Corporation (RMC) officials on Wednesday raided about 300 shops in the busy Shastri Markey locality here including the vegetable market and seized 30 bags of banned polythene bags.The State Government had taken firm measures against sale and use of polythene bags as it was raising serious environmental concerns particularly due to their indiscriminate dumping and burning in open places, officials stated.
The RMC officials have now been clamping down on all shop keepers and wholesalers stocking polythene bags despite the ban.The officials have now been suggesting the shopkeepers to hand over goods to consumers in paper bags instead of polythene bags.It may be recalled that the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) recently ordered the officers of local bodies to strictly ban the burning of plastic and solid waste in public places in the entire State.
In a circular to all the officers of the local bodies, the Board said as per the order of 2000, the burning of solid and plastic waste in the open are banned and is against law.The circular said that it has come to the notice of the Board that the plastic waste was being burnt in the open, thus polluting the air in the vicinity.It is a clear case of violation of law, it stated.
Stern action would be taken to prevent burning of solid waste material in the open. If any local body ignores the order then law will take its own course, the CECB stated in the circular.Incidentally, last week, while continuing the campaign against polythene carry bags in the city, the teams of Raipur Municipal Corporation conducted inspection of about 200 shops at Sharda Chowk and Malviya Road in the city. The team seized 3 quintals of polythene carry bags from the shop keepers.
RMC officials said that on directions of Municipal Commissioner Avneesh Kumar Sharan, teams led by Deputy Commissioner Dr luvkush Singraul and Revenue Officer Arun Dubey conducted surprise inspection of the electronic and flower shops in RDA Complex besides shops on either side of the road.The officers seized 3 quintals of polythene carry bags during the inspection.
Although the officers seized the prohibited carry bags, they did not initiate any action against the shop keepers. They advised the shopkeepers to use jute, paper and canvas bags instead of polythene bags.The officers warned the shopkeepers of legal action if they are found using polythene carry bags. Apart from monetary fine, the RMC team will seal the shop if the use of prohibited polythene carry bags is found in future, the officers said.
The officers also appealed to the shop keepers to cooperate in the campaign against polythene carry bags and help in protection of environment.It is pertinent to mention that the State Government has banned use of polythene carry bags from January 1. Since then, RMC officials are conducting inspections and collecting polythene bags from different parts of the city.
It is noteworthy that State Government has constituted State-level Advisory Committee for monitoring the implementation of provisions of notification released by Union Ministry of Forest and Environment New Delhi in the year 2011, regarding proper disposal of waste plastic.This committee has been formed by Urban Administration and Development Department. Principal Secretary of Urban Administration Department is the chairman of this committee.
There is a provision of including one expert from each of Environment Department, Environment Conservation Department, local urban body, NGO, one from industrial area and one expert from education field, as members of the committee. Director of Urban Administration and Development Department is the Member Secretary of this committee.
In November last year, the State Government had decided to declare Chhattisgarh as ‘Plastic Carry Bag Free State’ and it came into effect from January 1, 2015.Urban Administration and Development Department has issued a draft notification and had then requested people to send their objections and suggestions within 30 days.
In the draft notification, Government had stated that plastic carry bag causes both short-term and long-term environmental damage and health hazards.“Article 48-A of the Constitution of India envisages that the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment. Hence, Chhattisgarh Government is of the firm view that plastic carry bags are detrimental to environment and also to the health of people as well as animals,’’ the Government statement added.
It is observed that that plastic carry bags causes blockages in drains and gutters, leading to serious environmental problem.The State Government ordered that no person including shopkeepers, retailers, wholesalers, traders, vendors etc, should use plastic carry bags. The State Government further ordered that from January 1, 2015 onwards, no person shall manufacture, store, import, sell or transport plastic carry bag in Chhattisgarh.
It has been clearly stated in the notification that the words ‘plastic’ and ‘carry bags’ shall have the same meaning as defined under the Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011.The containers used for packaging food material, milk and raising plants in the nurseries are not carry bags.State Government further directs that District Collector, Officers of Commercial-Tax Department, Regional Officers of the Chhattisgarh State Pollution Control Board, All Commissioners/Chief Municipal Officers of urban local bodies of the State will implement these directions and file complaints.