NGO delegation meets MP Shwait Malik to impose plastic ban effectively

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 7

A delegation of Mission Aghaaz met MP, Rajya Sabha, Shwait Malik, to urge him to enforce the ban on use of plastic bags with conviction. Submitting their request through a letter and discussing the lapses in implementation of the ban since April 1, the volunteer citizens said all administrative officials should lead by example and focus on awareness campaigns. The letter explains the problems being faced by citizens due to the eco-hazards plastic bags pose. “As you are well aware about the problem of waste management that has been daunting the Corporation for a long time, one of the major contributors to this problem is the rampant use of polythene products that have replaced the traditional jute and paper bags.

Apart from choking the sewerage system, polythene also chokes the respiratory system of the animals especially cows, who consume the vegetables and other waste food items wrapped in the poly bags, leading to their death. The problems arising out of the continuous use of polythene have aggravated in the absence of stringent rules.”The delegation also requested the Mp and former Mayor of the city to intervene and discourage the protests by plastic manufacturers and traders, who are against the ban.“Everyone knows that plastic is a non-biodegradable material and cannot be considered healthy replacement for the natural fibre based products like jute or cotton. We welcome the blanket ban on plastics but only with effective implementation can we expect to root out the problem,” said Deepak Babbar, member Misssion Aghaaz.

The delegation urged him that the polythene manufacturers should be motivated to start making carry bags from jute and environment friendly material. Other members of the NGO present included Gurbhej Singh Sandhu General Secretary, Manjit Jhangra CEO, Rameshwar Dutt Sharma, Brij Mohan Sharma and Vishal Sharma.