Ban on single-use plastic flouted in city with impunity

Ranchi: Single-use plastic bags continue to be used with impunity across the state capital, three years after the ban was imposed on it by the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB).
In 2022, the JSPCB issued a notice to all manufacturers, stockists, retailers, shopkeepers and users of plastic and packaging materials to phase out single-use plastics by June 30 that year. Plastic pipes used in earbuds, plastic sticks used in balloons, candies, lollipops, ice-creams, and thermocol used in decoration were also banned.
The ban, aimed at curbing plastic pollution, appears to have had little impact, with plastic bags remaining a ubiquitous sight in the city. From street vendors to grocery shops, the use of single-use plastic bags continues, posing a significant threat to the environment.
The JPSCB has attributed the wide use of the plastic bags to failure in devising alternate solutions. JPSCB chairman Sashikar Samanta said the urban local bodies (ULBs) across the state are responsible for the implementation on the ban. Both the ULBs and the JPSCB regulalrly carry out inspection drives but the vendors hide the bags then.
"All the plastic production units in Jharkhand have been shut down. The bags are being smuggled to Jharkhand from other states. Also if we are banning plastic, there has to be an affordable alternative to that. But the authorities concerned have not been able to do that," Samanta added.
A vegetable seller said, "None of the customers bring carry bags. Hence, we have no option but to sell the vegetables in plastic bags. If I do not give bags, customers will go to other sellers and I will have to incur loss."
The ban also restricted the use of plastic cutlery, polystyrene cups, plates and plastic and PVC banners under 100-micron thickness, along with restriction imposed on the plastic covering on sweet and cigarette packets and around stirrers.