People launch bamboo basket initiative to check plastic bag use

Surat: A small group of environment-friendly people has come forward for making and then distributing bamboo baskets to vegetable vendors so that they can give up using the hazardous plastic bags in the city.
Members of Surat Citizens Group have uploaded messages on social media inviting NGOs to take up the challenge and complete the project across the city by August 15. The group has announced that the NGOs will be provided funds for purchasing bamboo baskets for free distribution to vegetable vendors.
Despite Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) imposing a blanket bank in June last year on the use of plastic bag below 50 microns in the Diamond City, there are vendors, grocers and shopkeepers, who continue to give commodities to their customers in the banned polythene bags.
Nainesh Parekh, member of Surat Citizens Group, told TOI, “Even the blanket ban on plastic bags has not deterred consumers and vendors from using them. Our group has taken up a small initiative to save environment by distributing bamboo baskets to vendors.”
Parekh, a retired banker, said, “We are ready to provide funds to the NGOs wanting to take up the bamboo basket challenge in the city. They will have to distribute the baskets to the vendors and ensure that the plastic bags are not used anymore.”
According to Parekh, residents in Yogeshwar Park Society in Adajan-Pal have been following the bamboo basket concept for the last one month.
Ashish Dalal, member of Surat Citizens Group, had convinced his ‘sabjiwala’ to use the basket. Initially, the vendor was afraid of losing his business, but now he is very happy. Dalal said, “Our ‘sabjiwala’, Ram Pyare has banished plastic bag since one month. Customers take away vegetables in bamboo basket and return the empty basket to him. This vendor is saving Rs250 a day by not using the plastic bags. We want the basket initiative to achieve success in the city and that residents and vendors give up using the plastic bags.”