‘Ban buckets, mugs too?’ asks Surat BJP president

SURAT: Shops and establishments across India will try to jettison single-use plastic from October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, but the standing committee of BJP-controlled Surat Municipal Corporation remains undecided on a proposal to ban it.
BJP leaders say they are unable to zero in on the plastic items that should be banned.
City unit BJP president Nitin Bhajiyawala said, “There is already ban on plastic material less than 50 microns in Surat.Total ban could lead to unnecessary harassment of people. We use buckets, mugs and boxes made of plastic. Should they also be banned? Clarification from the state government would erase all doubts.”
The administrative wing of the civic body recommended banning all types of plastics in the city in a proposal to the standing committee 20 days ago. Health department in their enthusiasm carried out 25 raids and seized more than 200 tonnes of plastic from several establishments and godowns in the past few days. Total ban was expected to be announced from October 2.
Decision regarding total ban on single-use plastic is unlikely to come on October 2. But the drive to create awareness about plastic as a hazardous waste continues in the city.
“We have sensitized at least eight lakh people in the past 10 days about harmful effects of plastic on environment. It will be better that we sensitize people and make them stay away from plastic,” said an officer of health department of the civic body.