‘Polythene bags cause waterlogging in cities’

The Odisha Krushak Mahasangha has once again urged the State Government to implement the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and ban use of polythene carry bags at the earliest so that cities would get relieved of waterlogging problems during the ongoing monsoon.

“The Housing and Urban Development Department had on April 10, 2018 announced to constitute District Level Taskforce in each district to plan, supervise, monitor and ensure emplatation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. However, the use of polythene carry bags has not been stopped yet,” lamented OKM present and former MLA Bibhudhendra Pratap Das in a statement.

He said the waterlogging problem has arisen in the cities as people are packing waste materials in polythene bags and dumping them on roadsides. Stagnation of water in drains also help in breeding of mosquitoes that cause spread of malaria and dengue like diseases. Besides, cattle eat waste vegetables wrapped in polythene bags and suffer from belly swelling. As many as 5,000 die every year in the State due to belly swelling caused by consumption of polythene bags.

The use of polythene and plastic bags has impacted the environment in many ways. Dumping of such materials in cities and tourist sites distracts foreign tourists, Das, a former MLA, argued.

Notably, the Forest and Environment Department had in January suggested to the Housing and Urban Development Department to form task force committees for implementation of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. Subsequently, the H and UD Department had announced to District Level Taskforce headed by district Collectors as Chairperson and SP, CDMO, OSPCB RO, Commercial Taxes Joint Commissioner and Municipal Commissioner/ULB EOs as members and DRDA PD as Member Convenor. 

Das demanded that the Government ban polythene and plastic bags in the better interest of people, State and the environment.