Ban on single-use plastic items goes for a toss in Jalandhar

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, July 9

Ten days have passed since the ban on single-use plastic items came into force, but the authorities concerned have miserably failed to check the violation. No special drives to curb the use of these banned items or aware residents about the ban have been launched in the city so far, nor does the Municipal Corporation health branch have any strategy ready on how to deal with the menace.

A visit to various locations in the city, including Focal Point, Sabzi Mandi, Maqsudan Mandi, Rainak Bazaar, Jyoti Chowk, Model Town, Mai Heeran Gate, etc., revealed that the use polythene bags, Styrofoam-takeaway containers, straws, plastic-packaging materials, plastic cutlery and other banned items is going on unabated in the city.

Roadside vendors, shopkeepers, grocery storeowners, vendors at mandis were giving polythene bangs to residents without any fear of law. Besides, the residents too, were found demanding polythene bags from the vendors, even for a small purchase like bread or biscuit packets.

Speaking to Jalandhar Tribune, Ramesh, a fruit vendor on the Cool Road, said: “Customers fail to bring their own bags and ask us for polythene bags. If we stop providing the same to them, our business will suffer.”

On being questioned if he is aware about the recent ban on polythene bags, he replied he had read about it in the newspaper a few days ago. “Despite ban, the polythene bags are easily available in the city, which means hardly any check over its manufacturing, stocking or selling has been done so far. Moreover, the customers ask for polythene bags, and if I fail to provide, they move to the next vendor,” he added.

Like Ramesh, other vendors also expressed similar thoughts. They said in the past, such bans have been announced a number of times, but no efforts have been taken by the government to provide a viable alternative to plastic bags or encourage the use of paper, jute or tote bags.

“Hardly any vegetable or fruit vendor is aware of the ban. I had gone to buy vegetables with my son at Urban Estate mandi, I carried my own bag thinking polythene bags would not be available with the vendors. However, to my surprise, the reality on ground was completely different. Almost all the vendors were packing the vegetables in the polythene,” said Palak Sethi, a resident.

Will ensure strict implementation

The health branch has been issuing challans to those using and manufacturing polythene bags. I will hold a meeting with the officials concerned on Monday and ensure strict implementation of the ban in the city. — Jagdish Raja, Mayor

No special drive yet to enforce ban

Due to meetings with the NGT panel in the past few days and other official work, special drives to check the use of single-use plastic couldn’t be launched. We will meet the MC officials on Monday in this regard. — Kuldip Singh, XEN, PPCB, Jalandhar