Sikkim cares for plastic ban, Darjeeling does not

Amitava Banerjee, HT, 27 Jun 2016, DARJEELING: While Sikkim is marching ahead with its crusade against plastic; the situation is grim in Darjeeling. Despite repeated bans on plastic bags, lack of stringent enforcement has resulted in the menace growing by the day.
In May Sikkim restricted the sale and use of Styrofoam (Thermocol) products like cup, plates and food containers. In the same month a Government notification declared that packaged drinking water will not be used in any government meeting or function with immediate effect.
Since 2002 Sikkim has successfully banned plastic carry bags. In 2004 a ban was imposed on fire-crackers. The bans are stringently imposed thus the success rate is very high in Sikkim. In the Himalayan state there is an awareness that enforcement is important.
On the other hand, a ban on plastic carry bags exists in Darjeeling but the ban has not been enforced stringently. Individuals taking responsibility for their action is a better and more effective way to create a plastic free Darjeeling than a ban, feel green groups.
Roshan Rai of DLR Prerna, an NGO stated “Usually a ban is imposed but there are no stringent laws to back the ban. With loopholes and confusion in who would impose the ban it is usually seen that bans are not very effective. Rather than a ban, individuals taking responsibility is a much effective tool.”
Despite a ban in both Darjeeling and Sikkim, the plastic bag has returned in the form of non woven PP (polypropelene) bags. The non woven PP bag looks like cloth but this is also plastic and has the same harmful effects.
“Most people are under the impression that non woven PP bags are made of cloth and manufacturers are also pushing this idea and claiming it disintegrates easily and is eco-friendly and it does not clog drains as it is porous. To the contrary it is worse as it tears up more quickly than ordinary plastic bags so recovery is more difficult” stated Rai. The situation is truly grim in Darjeeling. There is no segregation and no treatment of the waste. All waste is disposed in the dumping chute by the Municipality while individuals, families and communities dispose off waste in the “Jhoras” (streams) thereby clogging the jhoras and contributing to landslides.

(Photo courtesy: Prabin Khaling:http://sikhim.blogspot.in/)