The Hindu Business Line : Delhi govt move to allow usage of plastic bags faces flak

NEW DELHI: Delhi Government's move to allow usage of degradable plastic bags in main markets and local shopping centres has drawn flak from the green lobby which claims that it contradicts the High court's order and will add to the plastic menace in the national capital.

“To please the plastic lobby the city government in one way or another wants to encourage plastic bags even if it means environmental and health hazards,'' alleged Mr Vinod Jain of Tapas which had filed a petition in Delhi High Court against the plastic menace.

He referred to a recent court order which stated “Delhi government shall issue an appropriate notification forbidding use of plastic bags in the main markets and local shopping centres apart from hotels, hospitals and malls where use of such bags is alre ady forbidden.''

The court has nowhere said that degradable plastic bags should be allowed as claimed by the Delhi Environment department in a recent advertisement, Mr Jain said.

Mr Jain said while it was evident from the order that plastic bags should be banned in these public places but “the government is hell-bent on allowing usage of degradable bags which are not conducive to the environment.''

A committee, set up at the behest of High Court, comprising members from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) had also not favoured degradable plastics bags observing that “there were no BIS standards for su ch quality.''

However, according to Mr Vikram Soni, senior scientist at National Physical Laboratory, plastic bags are not bio-degradable whatever the thickness is. There is also no such thing as degradable, he added.

“It is a white lie and the government is fooling everybody. At the moment there are no such organic bio-degradable plastic bags and it is unlikely that there will be any such material in future,'' Mr Soni said.

He said the solution lies in complete ban on plastic bags to prevent plastic waste from choking drains and land.

In its report, the committee said “the chaos and problems caused by the use of plastic bags in the city are primarily on account of waste generated by plastic bags which needs efficient handling by the authorities.'' - PTI

Prev: Max India inks pact with UK firm for health insurance business

Business Line | NUS Index |


Related Topics Agricultural Policy E-Governance Financial Policy Foreign Relations Human Resources Industrial Policy People Politics Public Policy Note Random Walk Security Trade & Labour Unions View Point