Demand-supply gap brings plastic bags back in Amritsar

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 12

The Punjab Pollution Control Board’s initiative to use eco-friendly carry bags at the Golden Temple and in the holy city has suffered a roadblock due to a demand-and-supply gap.

From April 1, biodegradable carry bags were introduced to give “karah parshad” and “pinni parshad”.

A random check at the Golden Temple revealed that though there was adequate availability of eco-friendly bags for “karah parshad”, the “pinni parshad” was not being packed in these.

Officials said due to some “technical snag”, the requisite stock of eco-friendly bags could not be arranged for “pinni parshad”. About using the banned polythene bags, an official said, “The packing of pinni parshad at the Golden Temple had been hit as the size of new eco-friendly bags was not commensurate with the packing machine’s specification,” he said.

Similarly, in the holy city only 10 per cent success could be achieved over the ban. Against an estimated requirement of around 35-40 tonnes of bags in a month, the supply was restricted to just 4 tonnes of bags.

Officials said the reason was that the firms certified by the Central Pollution Control Board for manufacturing and supplying these bags were unable to meet the demand.

SGPC spokesperson Diljit Singh Bedi said there had been a shortage of eco-friendly bags of certain dimensions that were required at the Golden Temple. Besides, due to the lack of awareness, devotees came with ghee, dals, sugar etc packed in ordinary polythene bags which generated extra polythene refuse at the shrine.

Around 2 tonnes of bags are required in a month for use at the Golden Temple.

Pollution Board, Amritsar, Superintending Engineer Harbir Singh said the supply of biodegradable bags to the shrine was the top priority, but admitted the hiccups in providing the same for “pinni parshad”. He said the supply chain was being streamlined.

Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) chairman Kahan Singh Pannu said, “We are jointly working on the shortcomings in the way of pinni parshad dispatch. One immediate thought is that the available eco-friendly bags could be used for pinni parshad and the packing could be done manually. I am also in touch with the suppliers for bags of the required size for the pinni parshad. In addition, I am trying to arrange a technical hand to see that the packing machine can be customised,” he said.