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| Drives against polythene prove merely cosmetic exercises | | Above 50 microns polythene proves more dangerous for environment | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 9: Though the state government authorities have been routinely claiming of seizing the polythene carry bags but these exercises are appealed to be merely cosmetic in nature, far from making any change in the eco-fragile environment of Jammu and Kashmir. The vast use of polythene carry bags above 50 microns, which is permitted according to the law in vogue, has reportedly been proving more dangerous rather than effecting any change. Sources in the Pollution Control Department informed Early Times that as per present status polythene carry bags below 50 microns thickness have been banned in Jammu and Kashmir while the bags above 50 microns thickness could be used. “50 microns is 1/10th of a millimeter and it is not possible for the government officials to decide about the thickness during their drives. The sole criteria to check the thickness for the officials is to judge it visibly and by checking the name and address of the manufacturer, which has been made mandatory for the manufacturer as per new norms”, an official said, adding that when the Forest department had lifted the ban on polythene carry bags above 50 microns, it was claimed that the name and address of the manufacturer was mentioned, with an aim to recycle the same.
As per guidelines, the manufacturer had to recollect the polythene carry bags above 50 microns by paying for the used polythene carry bags to the customers. “But this recollection has not been done by the manufacturers as this option was not found viable by the manufacturers, so the recollection of the used polythene was never done”, sources said, adding that in absence of such failure to recollect the polythene carry bags, the quantity of the polythene consumption in Jammu and Kashmir has increased to great level.
In the last over three years since the ban was lifted over polythene carry bags above 50 microns, the polythene waste has increased to great extent. “Neither of the manufacturer have been re-collecting the polythene carry bags and nor the authorities have penalized any of the manufacturer about their failure to re-collect and reuse the polythene carry bags above 50 microns” due to reasons best known to them”, sources said.
The pumping of polythene carry bags in the eco-fragile Jammu and Kashmir has been increasing with each passing day, while authorities have been continue with their ritualistic exercises of seizing few kilograms of polythene carry bags, sending press releases for public consumption and imposing fine on some vendors but in actuality the environment has been facing threat due to polythene carry bags. |
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