Plastic ban puzzle for officials

TT, Siliguri, Dec. 1: The pollution control board couldn't clarify today how it would implement a ban on "the processing/manufacture of plastic carry bags" in the Siliguri subdivision and 14 added wards of Siliguri Municipal Corporation which are under Jalpaiguri district.

A notification issued by the state environment department on November 24 said: "...no person, including a shopkeeper, vendor, whole seller or retailer, trader, hawker, etc, shall use the polythene/plastic carry bags for supply of goods in polythene/plastic carry bags and further directs that no person shall manufacture, store, import, sell or transport polythene/plastic carry bags in the Siliguri sub-division area and the area under Siliguri Municipal Corporation which lies in the Jalpaiguri district.."

The order said "the environmental engineers and assistant environmental engineers of Siliguri Regional Office of West Bengal Pollution Control Board" shall implement the notification " related to processing/manufacture of plastic carry bags".

However, the pollution control board's representatives, who attended a meeting convened by Mukul Sengupta, the member mayor-in-council (conservancy) of the SMC this afternoon, couldn't explain how they would enforce the ban.

"We have to work together with the SMC and all departments concerned so that the order issued by state environment department can be properly implemented," Anindya Dasgupta, the environmental engineer of the board at the Siliguri regional office, said at the meeting.

When he was asked later what the board would do to stop the manufacture and storage of plastic carry bags, Dasgupta said: "I am not empowered to say anything in this regard."

Sources in the board, which is under the state environment department, said copies of the notification had been sent to those who owned plastic carry bag manufacturing units in the areas covered by the ban. However, they couldn't give clear answers when asked what they would do if the units continued to manufacture the carry bags and store the items.

Sengupta said "it is surprising that instead of taking a proper stand on implementing the ban, the pollution control board made vague remarks".

The mayor, Asok Bhattacharya, who was also present at the meeting, said the civic body would launch a drive in different markets of Siliguri from tomorrow to discourage the use of plastic carry bags. "Our sanitary inspectors will lead the drive. We had already held a campaign last week, distributing leaflets on plastic carry bags. We will also impose fine on people found using plastic carry bags," Bhattacharya said.

Those who will carry the plastic bags will be fined Rs 50. Shopkeepers will have to pay Rs 500 if they are found using the plastic bags.

On December 8, the civic body will organise a rally from Baghajatin Park to impart awareness of the ban.

Nantu Pal, the leader of the opposition at the SMC, was also present at the meeting, along with other Trinamul councilors. "We support the decision taken by the state environment department and will cooperate with the civic body in implementing the ban," Pal said.

Representatives of the North Bengal Manufacturing Plastic Dealers Welfare Association have said Siliguri has around 140 units which manufacture plastic carry bags. "I have been away from Siliguri for the past one week. I can comment on the notification only after I see it," said Ashis Chandak, the secretary of the association.