Plastic ban: Kangpokpi leading from the front
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: July 16, 2022 -

In sync with the government Order prohibiting sale and use of single use plastic products, almost all the district administrations have issued relevant notices cautioning that those found violating the order would face monetary penalties and even serve time in prisons.

However, with exception of the Sadar Hills District Autonomous District Council (SHADC), Kangpokpi, no major organisations or civil societies have till date made it public that the ban order would be strictly enforced in their respective jurisdiction other than acknowledging that the government's move is intended to check environmental pollution.

In a first of its kind in the state, the SHADC organised an awareness programme on Thursday wherein shop runners in the district, Kangpokpi town in particular, were advised to uphold the Manipur Plastic Policy, 2022 so as to help curb the menace of single use plastics.

Though stakeholders concerned as well as influential civil societies operating the district weren't part of the awareness programme, probably due to non-invitation, the participation of Kangpokpi deputy commissioner Kengoo Zuringla, SHADC CEO James Doujapao Haokip and executive officer (town) Limminthang Haokip besides the shop operators underscores determination and conviction of SHADC to make the prohibition effective.

Notably, it is the traders dealing in grocery items and vendors selling vegetables who have been impacted the most due to the ban on single use plastics and so, success of the government's endeavour to check plastic pollution will ultimately depend on whether or not these small-time business operators contribute their mite in reversing the trend of environmental damage.

Thus, having resolved to enforce the prohibition in the district, the SHADC must bring on board the civil societies to ensure that no traders defy its decision for it is certain that purpose of the ban would reap the fruit only when the stakeholders concerned keep a strict watch to discourage the business operators from resorting to stealthy activities in contravention of the resolution arrived at in the meeting.

For too long, especially when the World Environment Day observance is round the corner and devastation natural disasters occur in the state, the intensity of awareness campaigns on the ill-effects climate change and single use plastic reaches feverish pitch only for the same to wane after some time.

For instance, the habit of using and unregulated discarding of single use plastic has caused immense damage to the environment but the traders as well as the general population seem unconcerned with the evolving precarious situation as could be comprehended from continuous extensive usage of the ban plastic carry-bag after over a fortnight of the official ban on such products.

Thus, it is high time that either the shopkeepers unite and give up the use of single use plastic or ask their customers to bring their own non-plastic carry bags.

If all at SHADC succeeds in enforcing complete ban on use of single use plastic items, then it is obvious that other institutions and organisations would also follow suit and join hands in eliminating the scourge of plastic pollution before irreparable damage is caused to the environment.