news details |
|
|
| Plastic bags are back | | | S. S. Rissam | 11/18/2011 11:40:32 PM |
| All of us are familiar with plastic bags but only some of us are familiar with deep rooted problems associated with plastic bags. Few days back, when all of us went out to shop for Diwali we found people carrying their shopping items in plastic bags. Whether it was a shop in our locality or a posh market of Jammu, all were filled with plastic bags during the festivity season. All things ranging from food items to clothes to shoes, there is hardly any item that we don't carry in plastic bags. At our homes we have plastic bags with different styles, colors and shapes. We all never consider the dangers that are inherent in using them. If all of us are aware of these dangers then it is sure that we will prefer sticking to paper bags than plastic bags. Plastic bags cause a lot of environmental damage. A single plastic bag can take up to 1000 years, to decay completely. Plastic bags stay in environment for long and become the greatest destroyer of environment. Plastic bags have also been found to be responsible for the death of many animals as we in Jammu very commonly witness, at times, cows eating plastic bags near the dump of garbage which later lead to suffocation encountered on eating them. Also accidental deaths of infants and young children have also been reported in many cities because of plastic bags as children often ended up blocking their mouths and nostrils with them. Plastic bags are increasing the pollution levels in Jammu to a great extent but nobody is concerned to show any kind of urgency on this matter. It feels that they all are waiting for the day, when they may arise out of shock caused by the dangers associated with plastic bags. Sadly their concern at that time would be of no use as the loss at that time may have become irreversible. The effort was taken on the part of the Hon'ble CM, Omar Abdullah to stop the prevalence of plastic bags by banning its use in the state. But as it is said that "power lies somewhere else and power is executed by someone else" seems to be appropriate in this case. Reason is that the young, energetic CM has tried to free our state from this menace but the executors of his order are not concerned as the plastic bags are easily, freely and frequently seen in Jammu.
There was a time when the Hon'ble CM ordered this plan of action and plastic bags vanished from the markets. There were frequent protests by the manufacturers of plastic bag but at that time but it seemed the CM was of strong will and nothing would be allowed to be done which will destroy the environment and society on whole. Also the municipality officers were very active by raiding the shops and especially small time shopkeepers to extract fine from them in order to please their bosses to show that they were efficient enough. But as time passed the plastic bags resurfaced again in the market with the help and connivance of municipal officers. Now, the municipality adopted a different plan of action, this time they pleased their bosses as well the masses (especially shopkeepers). Before every raid, on the shops the advance news of the raid would some how reach the shopkeepers and they would clear their shop with no evidence of plastic bags. The surprising part is that no such action was taken against any big shopkeeper.
Either those shopkeepers were obeying the law or the municipal officers were obeying them. This all was the scenario in the early days when this issue was a burning issue in the society but now the state is struck with so many other issues that we have forgot this problem. The shopkeepers provide plastic bags again with a smiling face as this smile was missing in the days the raids were conducted. At that time, they would not even give a single bag but now they ask us if we need a spare one for carrying the items. This big change has come in a very short time and reason is the poor administrative machinery or careless attitude of officials or easy going employees. The Union Environment Ministry has banned manufacture and use of plastic bags less than 8 inches X 12 inches in size and 20 micron in width. The Ministry has also asked State Governments to register all plastics manufacturing unit, so that these can be regulated. However, the implementation of the order has been tardy, evident from the large number of plastic bags spotted in every major town as well as cities and Jammu is not an exception to it. Jammu is becoming increasingly contaminated by our unnecessary use of plastic bags. During rainy season the drains of old Jammu city are completely blocked and drains overflow and become the breeding grounds of germs and bacteria that cause diseases. We should try to use alternatives like paper bags, jute bags and cloth bags. Paper, Jute and Cloth bags are eco-friendly. Jute bags are found to be most suitable substitute then paper and cloth, because it is cheaper then cloth and is also reusable. Though paper bags are cheaper then jute bags but they are less durable. Next time, when you go out just take a look around and may be you see some plastic bag hanging on the branch of a tree. Plastic bags are also found in abundance on the beds of river Tawi, an auspicious river for all Hindus. When you see such things just ask some few questions to yourself. Are these plastic bags at appropriate place? How they reached here? Where will these bags go? How can we contribute to stop this menace? Just try to answer the last question and may be a big change will be visible in society in days to come. Just spread the message of saying no to plastic bags and support the banning of plastic bags. With this you may contribute to the change you want to see .The serious effort now on our part is required to be taken in order to overcome this problem as it is clearly visible that govt. has failed to curb this menace as till now results are not seen in Jammu as far as the banning of plastic bags is concerned. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
