Polythene ban far from effective in the city

At least a year after the High Court ordered a ban on polythene in the State, the enforcement of the ban on polythene and polystyrene disposables in the provisional State capital Dehradun has remained ineffective. This is principally because of the limited effect that the measures taken by the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun are having on the menace.   Mention worthy, the High Court had also directed measures to stop production and supply of the banned items on which nothing is being done.

Earlier, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had announced that enforcement of the ban would be strictly enforced from August 1. However, observers point out that due to lack of preparatory measures like raising public awareness, the effectiveness of the ban is yet to become effective in Dehradun. On the third day of the enforcement drive, when asked whether there is any polythene manufacturer living in the city, the additional municipal commissioner Neeraj Joshi said that they have no definite information on this.

As per the information provided by the MCD, currently the enforcement teams are focusing on seizing polythene bags and polystyrene disposables.

In the initial three days, 1092 shops mainly in the market areas have been inspected and the banned items have been seized from 362 shops. Approximately, polythene bags and thermocol items weighing around 139 kg have been seized by the MCD teams though no fine has been imposed on the first three days of the drive.

Speaking about it, additional municipal commissioner Neeraj Joshi said, “We are following the District Magistrate’s order of first informing the people about the ban. The process of slapping fines on those found on the wrong side of the laws would start from week,” he said. Quizzed over whether there is any report of the manufacturers of the banned items living and trading from the city, he said he had no idea. 

Earlier, MCD started the drive in the month of March to enforce the ban during which many shopkeepers, as well as customers, were slapped with fines. Activist groups in the city in collaboration with MCD and DM office organised programmes to raise public awareness.  Observers point out that the measures taken by the state authorities to enforce the ban can hardly be effective unless the source of the menace, the manufacturers, is effectively brought within the ambit.

MCD inspects 14 places and seizes 28.8 kg polythene bags and polystyrene (thermocol) items

In the continuation of the anti-polythene drive which is regularly being conducted by the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun, the team formed by the MCD inspected 14 places in the city and seized 28.8 kg polythene bags and polystyrene (thermocol) items on Friday. Under the direction of the municipal commissioner, the teams inspected 434 shops in the city on the day.

The eight teams formed by the MCD conducted the drive mainly in Racecourse, Dharampur, Niranjanpur, GMS Road, Vidhansabha, Shashtri Nagar, Kavli Road, Clock Tower, Vidhansabha, Shashtri Nagar, Chakrata Road, Rajpur, Jakhan, Seshastradhara Road and Hathibadkula. The teams checked 434 shops out of which 172 were found having polythene and polystyrene (thermocol) items. In total 28.8 kg, polythene bags and polystyrene (thermocol) was seized by the teams.

Additional municipal commissioners, Neeraj Josh along with some health and sanitation officers were present during the drive on Friday.