The ban imposed in the city on use of polythene carry bags has found residents totally complying with it. More than 10 days have passed since the ban came into effect, and no one has so far been fined for violating it.While shopowners in the markets of different sectors have already switched to paper and cloth bags, roadside vendors, too, seem to be moving in the right direction. The ban was imposed on October 2. “We have started using paper bags. Polythenes are completely out. We would rather not have raids at our shops for failing to follow the ban. Customers are being encouraged to get their own bags,” said a shopowner in Sector 22. In many retail stores, customers are being given incentives for bringing carry bags. At other places, the customers have to pay anything between Rs 5 and 10 for one.Charanjeev Singh, chairman of the Chandigarh Beopar Mandal, said: “Shopkeepers have shown voluntary compliance. A majority has switched over to paper or cloth bags. In the case of smaller shops, however, the price of such bags has to be passed on to the customers, who are paying it without any grudges. We would want that the Administration be a little lenient with us during the festivals.”The only place where the orders have not percolated down properly seems to be the grain market where polythene bags are freely available. Not many seem to be aware that the ban also extends to storing, transporting or carrying them. Additional Deputy Commissioner I S Sandhu said whoever was found flouting the ban would be taken to court. “The awareness drives by the Administration have led to voluntary compliance by shopowners. On the second day of the ban, teams visited around 486 places. Around 20 per cent of these places, where we found violations, were scrutinised.”
