After the State cabinet’s decision to completely ban use of hazardous plastic bags, the District administration has begun the exercise punish the violators. Soon, after the formulation of special enforcement teams both at the Zila Parishad including Urban local Body (UlB) level, the district administration will conduct raids at targeted spots. Notably, in September 2017, the State government has issued the instruction to ensure ban on plastic use.
According to the rules, the use of plastics is only permissible for manufacturing, import, storage, transportation including packaging of food products (milk and milk products) and usage as containers at plant nurseries.
Initiating from commercial hubs and chief market places in Capital City, the Municipal Corporation enforcement teams within its jurisdiction will keep a check on the use of plastic bags while the other team under the supervision of Block Development Officers (BDOs) at block level will conduct raids.
Ranchi DC, Manoj Kumar, during a meeting on Friday, with the representatives from Department of Industries, Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC), Department of Commercial Tax and Excise issued a notification to the stakeholders to ensure ban on the usage of plastic bags besides creating awareness about the same.
Focusing on the initiatives being adopted by the District administration team, Kumar said, “According to the records of the Department of Industries and Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB), there are no plastic manufacturing units here. Now, we have to focus on wholesalers, retailers and shopkeepers for which RMC at urban level and at block level, BDOs have been assigned the task of putting the ban on plastic bags use.”
The Ranchi DC further stated that the Municipal Corporation has identified five shops here at the business hub, Upper Bazar that mainly deal in plastic carry bags. After Chhath puja, raids will be conducted at these shops. Kumar said that the instructions have been already sent to the Municipal Commissioner for holding meeting with vendor committee members while making them aware about the recent notification.
Also, he assured that plastic ban would not hit the chain of demand and supply here. “To fill the gap that will hit the market after ensuring complete blanket ban. Jharkhand State livelihood Promotion Society (JSlPS) have been assigned the task of identifying the Self Help Groups (SHGs) that makes jute bags or other biodegradable carry bags, so that retailers and shopkeepers do not face the carry bags crunch while dealing with the customers.” At present, the district administration eyes on banning the bulk use of plastic carry bags only.
However, it is not merely the wholesalers, retailers and shopkeepers who are solely responsible in contributing to the environmental degradation but the city residents are equally responsible for the promotion of harmful substances like plastics.