Ranchi shopkeepers unaware of plastic ban

RANCHI: Banning the use of plastic bags has not been as effective as the amount of zeal with which awareness programmes has been carried out. From following the Supreme Court guidelines to campaigning against the use of the deadly non-biodegradable substance, the administration has tried to deter people from using it in every possible way. But, the outcome seems far from expected.
Most shopkeepers, who sell their items in plastic bags, are unaware of any such ban that will be imposed from June 1. Vishnu Lal Singh, a retail shopkeeper at Harmu Chowk, knows nothing about the proposed ban. "Customers always demand plastic bags. If I do not keep my stock ready, they will not come to my shop and sale will be affected," Singh said. Shopkeepers, whose outlets are inside residential colonies, are sure that this time also the proposed ban will not work like in the past. Retail shopkeeper Seema Devi who runs her shop at Saket Vihar Colony, is certain that nobody will come to her shop to verify the ban. "Who is going to inspect here in this area," said Devi. Another shopkeeper Ramesh Munda thinks customers demand for a poly bag saying it is difficult to carry products otherwise, and if bags are not provided, they do not buy. "Even if they carry their own bags, they still ask for plastic bags. We are compelled to give them poly bags."
Polythene bags of less than 40 micron thickness have come under the scanner for the time being. But its use is so rampant even in temples in Ranchi that locals in these areas also don't know about the ban.
Deputy commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey said, "We have called a meeting of all Ranchi Municipal Corporation and urban development department officials on June 30 to discuss how to tackle the issue. We will ensure that the proposed ban is implemented successfully this time." According to the SC guidelines, plastic wastes, management and handling rules 2011, under the provisions of the Environment Protection Act 1986, sale of any product in plastic carry bags is prohibited. Also, under the Recycled Plastic Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999 (as amended in 2003) manufacture, sale and use of carry bags less than 40 micron in thickness and less than 8x12 inches in size are prohibited.
Keeping this in mind, raids were conducted in April 2011 by the district administration and the state pollution control board to ban the polythene use in the city but the drive failed. On World Environment Day on June 5, an awareness campaign will be held here and cloth bags will be distributed to the shopkeepers.