Effectively ban plastics or set up recycling plants
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: March 24, 2023 -

IN May last, the government of Manipur announced restriction on selling and using of single-use plastics with the policy attributed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's objective to phase out the environmentally hazardous products by July, 2022.

As the deadline had been already lapsed but without any notable reduction in the use of the prohibited plastic items, barring the first few days of the policy coming into effect especially after department officials conducted raids and seized plastic carry-bags from the markets, the cabinet-mandated Manipur Plastic Policy, 2022 is set for re-implementation as announced on March 21 by Manipur Pollution Control Board (MPCB) chairman Dr Usham Deben.

Briefing the media at the Board's Lamphelpat office, Dr Deben had stated that the Board will re-launch drive against single use plastics including half litre water bottles from March 31 onwards and cautioned that shops and vendors found selling or using these types of plastics after the specified deadline will be dealt with as per the existing law. Back in May 2022, when forest and environment minister Th Biswajit announced the cabinet's consent to Manipur Plastic Policy, 2022, environment activists expressed both hope and scepticism over the policy as they had been consistently pointing out that the plastic menace need to be effectively addressed before it creates irreparable damage to the environment.

However, the latest announcement by the Board's chairman validates apprehension among the environmentalists that the policy makers lack commitment to enforce laws enacted to save the fragile environment from further degeneration as could be comprehended from the traders as well as the customers disregarding law of the land.

It is also worth mentioning that in August 2017 the government had issued a circular prohibiting import and sale of plastic items, including carry bags which are less than 50 micron in thickness, and cautioning that violators will be slapped monetary fine and repeated offenders jailed.

The 2017 order issued by the deputy secretary of forests and environment had also given more teeth to the law enforcement agents and entrusted them to shoulder the responsibility in reducing the threat posed to the public health by plastic wastes and check environmental pollution.

Taking into account of the repeated notices not yielding much and the fresh move to conduct drive to seize the banned plastic products it could be safely stated that there has been no notable achievement on the issue regardless of forewarning for stringent penalties.

As the likely reason for ineptness in implementing the policy or in addressing the plastic menace could be the legal wrangling over the Board's chairmanship between Dr Deben and his predecessor, it is hoped that this time around there would be no excuse as use of plastic items, carry bags in particular, has become part and parcel of daily life and livelihood.

Moreover, if the plastic prevention mechanism could not be put into action then it is suggested that the Board explore the option of setting up low cost plastic waste recycling plants for production of high quality recycled plastic items and work out innovative means to make the consumers realise the value of plastic while simultaneously investing in phasing it out with alternative products.