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Speak up Mumbai: After waste, onus of plastic too on citizens

State's decision to penalise consumers for plastic use, a measure to prevent monsoon flooding in the city, hasn't gone down well with citizens

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The government’s decision has led to a debate on whether consumers or manufacturers are responsible for the city’s plastic problem
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This week, the state government approved a ban on plastic bags, regardless of their thickness, and plastic and thermocol cutlery. The decision comes after last year's monsoon flooding in Mumbai which was attributed to blockages caused by plastic waste and construction debris.

Following the deluge in July 2005, the manufacture, distribution, stocking or sale of carry bags made of virgin or recycled plastic less than 8x12 inches and below a thickness of 50 microns was banned under the Maharashtra Plastic Carry Bags (Manufacture and Usage) Rules, 2006. With Thursday's move, the ban's scope has been increased to cover all plastic bags. A striking feature of the regulation is the provision to penalise consumers who violate provisions too.

Municipal commissioners, Zilla Parishad chiefs, municipal councils, district collectors or officials nominated by them, health, education, police and forest officials, voluntary groups and elected representatives will be designated to enforce the ban, and can lodge police complaints about violations. This has raised fears about the enforcement being draconian.

VOICES

The state government needs to stop manufacturing all kinds of plastic bags and cutlery. It is wrong to penalise common people who neither manufacture nor sell it. Instead of breaking the nexus of officials and manufacturers, the state government is making citizens the scapegoat.
Asit Singh, Borivali

Fines should not be restricted to the end user but applicable to the entire chain. Implementing a plastic ban is like running a marathon which needs to be properly monitored and cannot be left halfway. The government should first implement the solid waste management rules properly.
Rishi Agrawal, Goregaon

Putting the onus on citizens is not the right way to reduce plastic waste from the city's dumping yards. Plastic bags that are not recyclable should be banned, like they had done for bags that are less than certain microns. if manufacturers stop, there will be no plastic bags in the market to use. The problem should be nipped in the bud. Why are we paying taxes if citizens have to take care of everything from rainwater harvesting to waste segregation and now this? What are the authorities doing, then?
Madhu Poplai, Bandra

The state's decision to ban the use of plastic completely is a brave step to curb pollution caused by plastic. However, this initiative will require proper implementation. It is also the government's responsibility to provide alternatives to plastic bags. The consumer should not be inconvenienced during the policy's implementation. The consumer should co-operate with the government and play an important role towards this green initiative.
Aditi Shetty, Andheri

Fixing it on the end user is a good move. When consumers stop buying plastic, only then will the manufacturing of plastic stop. Everything depends on demand and supply. Till the time there is a demand, the supply won't stop. We need to curb the demand for plastic products so that the supply can come to an end. Only when the end user stops using plastic will the making and selling of it stop.
Rahul Kolgaonkar, Worli

Implementing plastic ban is an excellent move initiated by the government but it should be executed properly by the authorities with the support of people. The ban can be successful with the government preparing a roadmap in collaboration with the municipalities, NGOs, self-help groups and offering eco-friendly alternatives to plastic bags. Plastic is non-bio-degradable thus causes immense pollution. Today, the air quality of Mumbai is highly affected. Stringent action against plastic usage would reduce the city's pollution thereby improving the quality of air. Plastic also emits radiation which is harmful to human beings. Plastic bags can prove to be hazardous to animals too. Plastic bottles have also been identified as carcinogenic. However, the widespread use of plastic bags, combined with entrenched consumer habits will make it difficult to ban plastic totally.
Ishika Tolani, Bandra

We have a good set of laws compared to other developed nations but the main issue is their effective implementation. All laws and schemes in our country fail because of administrative lethargy, insufficient staff and corruption. The scheme like plastic ban needs to be implemented by involving NGOs, housing societies, ALMs, etc. We have a large number of senior citizens who are ready and willing to work for such social causes. Groups of students and women should also be roped in to make it succeed. Religious and spiritual leaders may be requested to make appeals in their gatherings. From the end user's point of view, the fine is quite high. Instead of a fine and jail term, it would be better to engage violators in obligatory social service to help execute the ban.
Ahmed Abdi, Fort

EXPERT SPEAK

Karnataka has been trying to implement a similar ban for the past two years however it has not been effective. The problem cannot be addressed without taking the industry on board. Making users accountable is simply the government's desperation to make the ban work. Measures to control the menace need to deal with the mindset of people. The main problem of littering is not being addressed.
Akhilesh Bhargava, Chairman — Environment, All India Plastic Manufacturers Association

The real problem is plastic management. How do you stop plastic from going into drains and landfills? The consumer is a responsible link but we have to think of practical solutions. All stakeholders should come together to evolve a solution. The municipal corporation should collect trash only after plastic has been segregated for which there needs to be awareness. Simply penalising will not help.
Anjana Ghosh, Director of Marketing & Business Development, Bisleri International

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