An alternate packaging must be provided8217;

Chandigarh, June 16: Last month, the Delhi government came down heavily on polybags... or rather, polybag disposers. Anybody caught throw...

Chandigarh, June 16: Last month, the Delhi government came down heavily on polybags8230; or rather, polybag disposers. Anybody caught throwing a polybag in the trash in Delhi faces a penalty of Rs 500 for a first offence, and for a second offence the fine is heavier and even carries the threat of a month8217;s sojourn in jail.

The Chandigarh Administration and Municipal Corporation are both aware of the undesirable nature of polybags. But beyond experimental bans confined to Sector 17 and anti-plastic painting and poster contests for school children, no strong steps have been taken here. For that matter, consensus is yet to emerge on the most effective way to eliminate use of polybags. Many argue that going after citizens who throw away polybags or shopkeepers who pack goods in polybags will be much more difficult than closing down polybag manufacturing units.

Chandigarh Newsline asked citizens what they thought of the measure Delhi has adopted and whether they would like to see the same ban imposed in the city.

Amrita Dhingra, a student of Psychology Department, Panjab University, claims: quot;As long as they are there, people will use them. The government should plan to do away with polybags8230; not at one go, but in phases. Give manufacturers and shopkeepers a deadline 8211; maybe six months or a year to exhaust their existing stock of polybags 8211; then impose a ban. I8217;m against making any law that cannot or will not be enforced. In the mean time, the government should subsidise paper and jute bags to encourage their use.quot;

Sameer Shergill, who is working in Canada, shares similar views: quot;Polybags are non-biodegradable and cause a lot of damage to the environment. People should be encouraged to make use of paper bags or jute bags as we do in Canada.

quot;Says P.S Brar: quot;Their use must be abolished as soon as possible, but before that the government must provide an alternative packaging such as paper bags. Moreover, citizens must make an effort. In the old days, polybags were available, a shopper always carried a cloth thaila to bring back purchases from the bazaar. This practice should be revised.quot;

Says Ritu Bagga, a teacher: quot;As long as shopkeepers give us polybags, it will be difficult to stop using them. I see no harm in using polybags to carry goods and commodities. What is necessary is their proper disposal. To curb the plastic menace, the Chandigarh Administration should give paper bags free of cost, for say at least 10 days or so. A mass awareness drive should be launched to explain the ill effects of plastic to the common man.quot;

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Kunal Pandove, a B.Tech final year student, says: quot;Although polybags pose a threat, manufacturers as well as shopkeepers who have large stocks of polybags, will strongly resist an immediate ban. The government should educate the common man to make use of eco-friendly products and subsidise alternate packaging.quot;

Sunita, a housewife, knows that the thin bags block the drains and kill the stray cattle who swallow them. She favours the Delhi way and urges quot;penalise people who throw them away carelessly. People should be educated to use paper bags as they do in Europe, where even the heaviest groceries are easily carried in paper bags.

Angels, a card-cum-gift shop in Sector 34, is one city shop where small items are packed in paper bags. Says the proprietor: quot;Big paper bags are not cost effective so we use polybags for heavier stuff, but otherwise our effort is to reduce their consumption to the minimum.quot;