Enforcing ban on single use plastic : Posers on the earlier ban
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: March 24, 2023 -

It just does not add up. Or is it a case of the right arm of the Government not knowing what its left arm is doing ?

Nearly one year after Imphal followed the call of Delhi and announced a ban on the manufacture, sale and use of single use plastic as well as a ban on half litre plastic water bottle, came the information from the Manipur Pollution Control Board that it would enforce the ban from April 1 this year.

It was on July 1, 2022 that the Government of India announced a ban on single use plastic including earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, thermocol for decoration, plastic plates, plastic cups, plastic cutlery, such as forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays and plastic carry bags below 120 micron.

Nearly one year after this announcement came the information from the MPCB that it is now set to enforce the ban on single use plastics and plastic water bottle below one litre after March 30.

A question of better late than never or a question of the MPCB coming wise nearly a year after the notification on the ban on single use plastic was announced ?

It was for this very reason why The Sangai Express had on September 8, 2022 questioned whether the ban announced in July of 2022 was still in force or not and it was with a reason why that question was raised.

After the ban on half a litre plastic water bottle was announced last year, 500 ml water bottles continued to be used left, right and centre, and this column back then had also pointed out how such used and emptied water bottles continued to strewn the way up to Cheirao Ching, a point which any morning or evening walker along the said route would have come across.

It was for this very reason why the poser, whether the announced ban was still in force or whether some sort of a relaxation had been given.

Now that the MPCB has announced its plan to enforce the said ban after March 30, one is left wondering whether the decision to ban single use plastic and water bottles below the one litre mark had been effectively conveyed to all the different branches of the Government or not.

Plastic pollution is serious and this is not something to be taken lightly but when the Government keeps on announcing the same ban without clarifying whether the earlier notification announcing the same ban had been relaxed or not will only confuse the people.

The seriousness with which the decision to ban single use plastic seems to be starkly absent and surely this is not the way to tackle the growing plastic pollution all around.

The Government will need to show it is serious about enforcing the ban on single use plastic.

Are plastic cups no longer in use at any of the numerous road side tea stalls ?

If the answer is no then this should open the eyes of the Government to the fact that such cups are being sold openly in the markets.

Where do they come from ? Are they being manufactured in Manipur ?

If not then what are the personnel manning the numerous check points along the National Highways doing ?

These are all questions which the Government should tackle with the seriousness it deserves else the ban on single use plastics and other items made of plastic will remain just that-on paper.

Once the sky opens up and the rain comes in all its glory, then one can expect the numerous khongbans at the leikais and leiraks being clogged by single use plastics leading to floods and clogged drains.

How effectively has the Government been able to take the people along with the decision to ban single use plastics, particularly plastic carry bags ?

Is it going to be a case of the ban being enforced diligently for some days initially only to peter off after some time ?

All questions which the Government should bear in mind while it goes about enforcing the ban on single use plastics.