To ensure a strict implementation of the single-use plastic ban, civic bodies have intensified an anti-plastic drive to make Jamshedpur single-use plastic-free. DC Vijaya Jadhav has urged residents to spread awareness about the ill effects of single-use plastic pollution on health and the environment and to promote the use of sustainable alternatives among their kin.
Under the drive, anyone found selling or using a plastic carry bag has to pay a penalty which ranges from Rs 100 to Rs 10,000 by the officials of Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC), Mango Notified Area Committee (MNAC) and Jugsalai Municipality. Several fines were recovered during the drive on Wednesday.
The ban on single-use plastic has come as a significant step to reduce pollution. The Centre has issued guidelines to the states for banning the use of select single-use plastics effectively from July 1, 2022. The guidelines mandate a ban on manufacturing, distribution, import, sale, stocking, and use of single-use plastic items such as glasses, plates, cutlery, cups, wrapping or packaging films, and PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers, and straws.
"We are in support of the anti-plastic drive. But unfortunately, if we talk about the JNAC area, most of the people use plastic, they use plastics instead of paper and are not willing to provide an alternative like cloth bags," said a resident.
A resident of Sakchi, "We never use plastic bags as they are harmful to our surroundings. It destroys the natural ecosystem, pollutes our stormwater water drains and more. Not only I but also our children are discouraging the use of single-use plastic. We always carry our cloth bags to the market."
While many residents have appreciated this drive, some have also raised their doubts. Another resident said, "Why is JNAC and police not taking any action against the single-use plastic manufacturer, distributors. Such plastics can be found in any shop and weekly bazaar. Only hard action can resolve this big issue and the impact of this activity will be very less."
According to sources, the plastic carry bags are sold in the stationary shops. During the 2017-19 when the administration had launched a special drive against it, the shop-owners had either removed the stock of such bags from the shop or had concealed them in the godown. After the change of government, the shop-keepers had resumed the sale as there was a strong demand for it by the retailers as well as the vegetable vendors.