The State, with the aim to implement plastics ban, passed a resolution in the Assembly, under Section 110 of Tamil Nadu Assembly Rules, on June 5, and it was followed by a Government Order (GO) where the details of banned items and steps to be taken were listed.

Following the GO, TN launched a website, www.plasticpollutionfreetn.org and an app named ‘Plastic Pollution Free Tamil Nadu’, on August 23, with the aim to create awareness among new users.

However, ever since the app was launched, only 500 users have downloaded it. Even then, some of the users said they were not satisfied as the app didn’t offer anything new.  Moreover, the app hasn’t been updated even once after its launch. Details of officials were also not updated.

 

For instance, in the column of contacts, Santhosh Babu IAS, is mentioned as Chairman and Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation, but he was transferred and appointed as Secretary of Information Technology Department.Similarly, in the list of District Collectors, Anbuselvan IAS, is mentioned as Chennai Collector but he was transferred and posted as Collector of Cuddalore. One of the users, Marshal, said, “There is no mechanism to register complaint against violators and there is no response when officials are contacted.”

A few activists said that the government needs to campaign and weed out single use plastics from society. Kripa, a researcher attached with CAG, said, “The lacklustre attitude of the state shows they are not too keen on implementing the ban.”

 

However, one of the regional coordinators for implementing the project, Rajendra Ratnoo IAS, said the app is one of the tools to reach out to the people on the plastic ban and the success of implementation cannot be concluded based on a single app. “We held meetings with Madurai and Tirunelveli Collectors on November 20 and 21. Such meetings are held on a regular basis,” said Ratnoo.