ET Report
Jammu, Spet 2: Despite ban, polythene is being used sold in almost every market in Jammu region as the concerned authorities have failed to implement the ban.
The shopkeepers get polythene bags from various manufacturing units in the state illegally and use them as carry bags. The polythene then gets mixed with waste coming out from houses and choke drains and streams, resulting in over flowing of rain water.
During the monsoon season, these polythene bags become a reason of worry for residents as rain water some times enter their houses after coming out of drains. Though the Jammu Municipal Committee (JMC) every now and then sends its teams for surprise checks and ceases polythene bags, but still shopkeepers use polythene bags illegally.
"We go for regular market check and impose fine on violators but still many shopkeepers violate ban. People must understand the hazards of use of polythene and try to avoid using these bags," said Dr. Vinod Sharma JMC health officer.
People instead should use other type of bags made of cloths and paper as it is good for them and society on the whole.
Almost every day JMC imposes fine on violators and cease polythene in huge numbers but it has never cancelled license of any shopkeeper who is a regular violator. The JMC health officer said that the law didn't permit them to cancel the license of a shopkeeper on using polythene bags but they impose fine.
"We impose Rs. 100 to Rs 5000 fine to violators. Today only we ceased polythene but people are not shunning this practice," Dr. Sharma added.
The menace is not only limited to Jammu city alone but it has reached other districts of Jammu region also where the authorities are in deep slumber and haven't started any action against the violators.
In places like Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar and other districts, use of polythene is going normally and the ban implementing authorities don't make any check on them. In some municipal areas, the municipal authorities go for check and impose fine but in rural areas, no one takes care of ban and people use polythene as carry bags. |
