Early Times Report
Kathua, July 22, Non-biodegradable plastic items continue to be openly sold and used in restaurants in Kathua despite a ban as the municipal area.
The government ordered a ban on sale and use of non-biodegradable plastic items for daily use in March.
There has been no market checking since to stop wholesalers and most shops selling polythene and foam items, residents and shopkeepers say.
The situation is the same in kathua town of the district.
"I believe that the authorities are not aware about government ban on selling of any these items which is harmful to the nature and is non-degradable," said Ghansham sharma, a social actvisite from Kathua town.
Vegetable vendors in kathua market, retail shop owners, and even roadside vendors are now seen selling their merchandise to customers in polythene bags, which are below 50 microns. As per the guidelines, the plastic bag must weigh over two grams and must enlist a buy-back price on the same.
"These banned items are back in circulation in the markets and the shopkeepers are openly using them," said Ashok kumar, a customer who is a regular visitor to the kathua vegetable market. |
