Roopa Lall & Avinash Shahi
Port Blair, May 07: Use of polythene bags was banned in Andaman and Nicobar Islands long back. After the ban Islanders were hoping that the menace of plastic bag would finally be dented in these Islands but sadly even today, the whole Port Blair city remains strewn with polythene of all shapes, hues and sizes.
On August 20 2018 the PBMC had issued a press note and cautioned people and other stake holders against use of non-woven cloth/plastic carry bags from Sept 15, 2018 onwards.
“Anybody found using these bags as per the PBMC-Solid Waste (Handling & Management) Bye-Laws, 2017 under clause 6 (33) ‘Not taking part in the solid waste management system of Port Blair Municipal Council’ will be dealt with sternly,” the caution said.
“It seems that the caution has been taken too lightly by various people who still bring plastic carry bags in huge quantity and public is also happy using plastic carry bags, just because lack of check,” said a resident of Mohanpura.
When Andaman Sheekha Contacted Secretary PBMC Suneel Anchipaka IAS he accepted that use of plastic bag is still continuing in city but he mentioned that PBMC is putting best efforts to enforce plastic bag ban.
“Revenue Staffs and RO staffs of PBMC have been continuously enforcing plastic bag ban but plastic bags are being brought from multiple entries viz Jetty and Airport. As a permanent solution, recently state level action committee, under chairmanship of CS has taken a decision. Already draft publication has been made in this regard. We are waiting for claims and objections. Once 60 days are over we will completely ban plastic bags after which plastic bags will be completely eliminated from Andamans,” the Secretary PBMC told Andaman Sheekha.
However, general public fails to understand that how many more ban orders of Plastic Bags will be required to completely stop entry of plastic bags in Andaman.
General Public believes that there is a clear lack of commitment in Administration and PBMC in this regard only because of which still large quantity of plastic bags are entering inside these Islands.
As far as general public are concern they will surely stop use of plastic bags once PBMC manages to stop entry of plastic bags in Andaman and provides alternate bio-degradable bags in city for public use.
The PBMC must also promote and encourage those businessmen who brings bio-degradable bags in Andamans, so that general public can easily get an alternative of plastic bags and say no the polybags themselves.
