Dr Asangba Tzudir
Following the largely unsuccessful imposition of ban on single use plastics by the Government in 2019, once again the ban has been imposed on the use of identified single-use plastic items which have low utility and high littering potential w.e.f. July 1, 2022. This re-imposition has come in the wake of the failure on the previous ban attempt and also in view of the serious environmental and ecological challenges posed by rampant use of plastics.
As per the notification, the specifics of the ban and the items that fall under single use plastics and all other clauses mandated in the “Plastic waste management Rules 2016” and the “Plastic waste management (Amendment) Rules, 2021” is to be strictly adhered. That, any breach will be liable for penalties, and to this end, the District Administration, Sub-Divisional Administration or Urban local bodies will decide and levy penalties against the defaulters in their jurisdiction.
While the latest notification comes with more stringent measures, one may also revisit the previous ban and the reasons for its failure. The ban came against a ‘normalised culture’ and being already ‘adapted’ as a lifestyle for a very long time, it was difficult for the ban to take effect. The immediate as well as long term impact and consequences on the people and environment is yet to hit hard on the minds and hearts of the populace in the face of this ‘normalized culture’ of using plastics especially the polythene bags.
Also, the ban was not taken seriously nor was it imposed with all seriousness. The usage of the single use plastics being a normalized condition may seem difficult to do away but the fact is that there are other alternatives which require adaptation and hopefully with time a new culture will be adapted.
Cloth bags and paper bags especially for shops and market goers should be encouraged. However, if the single-use plastics is completely banned and not made available under any circumstances, then the alternative culture will be adapted.
To this end, a lot of knowledge, education, awareness and sensitization are called for. Especially in commercial areas, besides information through print and electronic, billboards needs to be displayed with educative form of awareness so also the details on the ban in order to discourage the ban on single-use plastics.
The success of the ban calls for a collective responsibility, and we all need to come together to help Mother Earth in order that we can live a better and healthy life.
(Dr Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be emailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
