Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, May 27
Shri Ram Sena (SRS) on Monday asked Governor Administration to ensure that the ban on polythene in the State is implemented in “letter and spirit” and demanded the government to devise a mechanism to deal with the polythene menace at the entry points to J&K.
Addressing a press conference here today, Shri Ram Sena J&K State President Rajiv Mahajan observed that the use of polythene and other non-biodegradable items in day-to-day life cause long-term environmental damage and health hazards besides affecting the flora and fauna and water bodies.
He emphasised that a “coordinated and multi-pronged” approach was needed for curbing the menace of polythene and other non-biodegradable materials effectively.
Mahajan further added that notwithstanding the blanket ban, shopkeepers in Jammu continue to provide polythene bags to the customers and also raids by Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) teams to seize the banned carry bags seem to be a mere “formality” as no serious initiative has been taken to curb the practice.
“Be it a vegetable vendor or a shopkeeper, most of them supply goods to their customers in polythene bags and customers too have no problem with it. They hardly raise questions about the use of poly bags by the shopkeeper,” he said adding that until and unless they stop buying things in polythene bags, situation will not change much on ground.
He appealed to people to start from their homes the mission to make Jammu and Kashmir a polythene-free State and adopt biodegradable options as a counter to polythene.
Mahajan suggested that if any shopkeeper or vendor is found selling their items in polythene bags, they should by fined to the tune of at least Rs 10,000 and their shops should be minimum closed for two days to serve a deterrent for others.
Mahajan maintained that despite conducting anti-polythene drives at many places in Jammu, there has been no check on the supply of a large quantity of polythene bags, particularly from the city outskirts where many small units were involved in making polythene bags.
Anybody found with polythene should be made to pay fine and Government must deal very strictly with such offenders now. We can’t let our environment get devastated for these things now.
He said government seems least concerned over the ill-effects of polythene usage in the state and various steps have hardly been taken to address the issue.
“Government must mull to bring even more strict laws to deal with the polythene menace across the State,” Mahajan said.
Mahajan stressed on the need to educate society against the use of polythene bags to save the environment and sought the support of civil society and social organisations for the cause.
He underscored the need to promote use of handloom woven bags to replace hazardous Plastic bags.
He urged upon the social organizations including the private entities of Jammu to promote and use the handloom bags, which will also boost the local employment and revenue generation of the State.
